A Feast for Crows

 George R.R. Martin

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐
Genre: Fantasy

I’m disappointed somehow to say that A Feast for Crows got the lowest rating from me in the series—3.0 out of 5.0. After the epic events in the previous book, this installment feels very different. It shifts its focus toward the aftermath of the war. It also focuses on the political and emotional consequences of that war across Westeros. While some things worked for me here, many of them felt undercooked.

To be brief, the story follows characters like Cersei, Jamie, Brienne, and Arya most of the time. Cersei tries to consolidate her power in a very unstable kingdom. Jamie felt like he didn’t have a clear mission. Brienne the wench is going places in search of Sansa. While Arya continues her training far from Westeros. 

One of the biggest drawbacks for me was the absence of major characters like Jon Snow, Tyrion, and Daenerys. A huge gap was felt due to their absence. I consider these characters the core emotional connection to the series, and without them, this book felt incomplete and less interesting. I feel the author has treated this book like a setup for future events rather than an actual installment in itself. 

The new characters that were introduced in this book didn’t feel that compelling. They didn’t compensate for the absence of those important ones. I think one of the reasons why I was not a big fan of them is that their motivation didn’t entirely make sense to me. 

If I had to choose the strongest POV, then it would be Cersei’s chapters. Her descent into paranoia and her mistakes and flawed decision-making were truly fascinating and entertaining at the same time. Jamie’s internal conflict, despite no clear goal, was surprisingly the second strongest POV. 

Pacing, however, is where the book struggles the most. It is undeniably slow, with very little actually happening for long stretches. I found myself particularly tired of Brienne and Arya’s chapters, where the repetition in their journeys started to wear thin. What might have been atmospheric instead became frustratingly stagnant.

I understand that the author chose to structure the book this way to avoid splitting character arcs into half-stories, as he has mentioned, but in my opinion, this approach did not work well—at least not for me. It did not benefit the series and made this installment feel like an incomplete piece rather than a cohesive whole.

Interestingly, it took me nine books in The Wheel of Time to give a 3.0 rating, but for this series, it only took four. With one book left for me, I don’t see this changing my overall perception. I still consider this an excellent fantasy series, but it doesn’t come close to The Wheel of Time in my view, and I do think it’s somewhat overrated. Perhaps many readers are influenced by the TV adaptation, which I haven’t watched yet. 

Once I finish the fifth book, I plan to watch the show and treat that as the conclusion, rather than waiting indefinitely for future books. I’m a fan, but not one who will wait endlessly. It’s also worth noting that in both series, I gave the most popular entries—Book 3 here and Book 4 in The Wheel of Time—a 4-star rating. Maybe it’s the weight of expectations, or simply the effect of hype.

Key Themes

• Aftermath of War
• Moral Decay
• Honor
• Survival
• Identity
• Transformation

The Whisper Man

 Alex North

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐
Genre: Mystery Thriller

I picked up this book after a very long time and with a lot of anticipation, especially given its reputation for being a chilling thriller with lots of emotional feel. The story is about Tom Kennedy and his son, Jake. The father and son move to a very quiet town, trying to start their life again after Tom’s wife passed. What they didn’t expect was that this town has a dark past tied to a serial killer called “The Whisper Man." 

When a child in the town goes missing, that whole past resurfaces, opening up the investigation. And things from there get more chilling and confusing. I found the premise of the book quite gripping, and it sets the stage for what I thought would be a deeply haunting mystery experience.

In my opinion, the strongest aspect of the book is its atmosphere. Alex North does an excellent job creating that feel of unease that keeps hanging over the entire story. The idea of someone whispering to children through their windows is honestly very creepy, and the tension the author created in some of the scenes really works. There’s a lingering darkness here that keeps you engaged even when the plot itself slows down.

The writing itself is also solid. It’s easy to read and, at times, quite touching, especially when dealing with themes of grief and loss that both the father and his son experience. North clearly knows how to build mood and emotion, and there are moments where the prose really shines. This made the book easy to move through, even when I wasn’t fully invested in the story.

That said, the characters felt underdeveloped. I think they rarely go beyond the familiar archetypes, which is a bummer. I wanted to connect with them on a deeper level, but that never happened. You know, when you are not too invested in the characters, it will be hard to care about them or the outcome of the mystery. 

The multiple POV structure didn’t work for me, which I feel ended up fragmenting the story rather than consolidating it. Probably one of the reasons for that is that I was alternating between reading and listening to the audiobook, and unfortunately, that didn’t help. The narrator felt like he was simply reading the text rather than performing it, which made it hard to follow whose POV he was reading. 

Combined with an ending that I found underwhelming, the book ultimately didn’t leave a strong impression. This is my second book by Alex North after The Angel Maker, and once again, it lands at a 3-star read for me—decent, but not particularly memorable.

Key Themes

• Loss
• Grief
• Serial Killer
• Small Town
• Fatherhood
• Childhood
• Isolation

Habits of the Sea

Shea Ernshaw

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Genre: Fantasy + Magical Realism

The story follows Ellie and how she, as a child, finds herself on an isolated island meeting a man called Clay. What she thought was only a night spent on that island turns out to be more than that. Years later, Ellie is in her thirties. She is again on that island, and she meets Clay again, but he is not changed; he has not aged a day. 

Ellie feels attracted to Clay and the life on the island, forgetting about her boyfriend James and her Nana. There is always a constant fight inside her to return to her previous life rather than staying with Clay, whom she gets attached to with every passing day. 

The main highlight for me about this book is its atmosphere. It’s a very hazy and dreamlike atmosphere. You will feel the sea, the sky, and the island all blur together into a very surreal and immersive environment. The setting feels very much alive throughout the book, giving you that impression as if it were part of the character arc. It’s one of those books where the mood is the story as much as the plot itself.

The writing style is another major strength. It is very lyrical without overdoing it. Words flow in a way that perfectly matches the slow and isolated nature of the island. The author did a terrific job in her descriptions of the environment, as well as Ellie’s internal state. 

There is a romance in the story, but it is not the stereotypical kind. It is part of the story but not the emotional core of it, because this tale touches on a lot more subjects like grief, detachment, and the isolation sometimes we seek. There’s a quiet honesty in how the book handles pain—not dramatic or exaggerated, but lingering and persistent, like a tide that never fully recedes.

This is the third book I’ve read by this author, after The Wicked Deep and A History of Wild Places, both of which I also loved. There’s a clear signature style across all three—an emphasis on atmosphere, a touch of the uncanny, and characters searching for meaning in unusual circumstances. This one leans even more into introspection, and while it feels different in scope, it still carries that same haunting quality I’ve come to expect.

In terms of pacing, this is definitely a slow burn. At times, it felt like the story drifted rather than moved with purpose. But interestingly, that slowness also works in its favor. Overall, this is a story that is written beautifully. It is atmospheric and prioritizes both mood and emotion over the plot itself. A very solid read.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for the ARC of this book.

Key Themes

• Identity
• Self-discovery
• Isolation
• Grief
• Love
• Choice & Consequences

Before We Were Yours

 Lisa Wingate

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐ ½
Genre: Historical Fiction

As usual, I’m late to the party! This book has been sitting on my shelf for a long time, asking me to pick it up and read it because it is one of the highest-rated stories on my historical shelf. Before We Were Yours is a historical fiction with dual timelines that focuses on family, loss, grief, and secrets. 

The past story is about Rill Foss and her siblings, who live a humble but loving life on a riverboat with their parents. Their life is shattered when authorities take them away, separating them from the world they know. They are placed into the Tennessee Children’s Home Society, where they face neglect, cruelty, and the looming threat of being permanently separated through illegal adoptions.

Rill, as the eldest, tries to protect her siblings, and in the process, her journey becomes one of survival, resilience, and quiet resistance in the face of overwhelming injustice. In the present day, we follow Avery Stafford. She is a successful woman from a politically prominent family; a chance encounter changes things for her and opens family secrets. 

The book keeps alternating between the two timelines. What worked the best for me was the past timeline, as it carried more depth and emotional weight. I just feel that part of the book had more punch, and it is the actual historical part of the story. In my opinion, the novel would have been stronger if it were entirely focused on the past timeline, perhaps using the present only for the prologue and epilogue. 

The writing style is easy and accessible. It flows easily—making the book more engaging and easier to read. The prose is not overcomplicated, which is something I really appreciate, and it works well in favor of the story. 

However, the pacing is not the strongest thing in this book. I felt in the middle there was a bit of dragging, and the story would’ve benefited more if the fillers there were removed. You will feel that when you reach that part because it will make you notice that the narrative is losing its momentum.

While the book aims to be emotionally powerful, there were moments where it felt overly dramatic, which I don’t think was the author's intention. I felt those moments were trying hard to get a reaction from the reader. I still think it is a solid read, but I can’t hide my disappointment because I was expecting this to be an all-time favorite. I guess I was just expecting a lot from it.

Key Themes
Family
Loss
Isolation
Grief
Secrets

Rock Paper Scissors

 Alex Feeney

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Genre: Mystery Thriller

Having already read Daisy Darker, I went into Rock Paper Scissors with a clear sense of what to expect from Alice Feeney—twists, secrets, and a narrative that plays games with the reader. The story is about a troubled married couple (Adam and Amelia) who spend their weekend in a remote chapel in Scotland trying to fix their failing marriage. Right from the beginning, you will feel there is something wrong with this marriage and that it was built on a weak foundation.

As you progress in the story, the narration changes a bit with the timeline shifting between past and present, and also POVs keep changing. I feel the present-day narrative was more tense and atmospheric as the couple was trapped in this eerie and isolated place. The author did a great job there and also in blurring the lines between the past and present.

What stood out to me the most in this book is how incredibly atmospheric it is. The remote, snow-covered setting, the quiet isolation of the chapel, and the constant sense of unease create a strong mood that carries the entire story. It’s the kind of book where the environment itself feels like a character, pressing in on the story and amplifying every secret and suspicion.

The pacing is another strong point. If you are looking for a fast read, this is definitely one. The chapters are short, and there is enough going on to keep things moving. It’s easy to fall into that “just one more chapter” loop, especially as the narrative starts layering revelations on top of each other. While some sections take their time building up the mystery, I never found myself bored—there was always a sense that something was about to click into place.

I appreciated the twists even though they lean more toward withholding information from the reader. Normally, that kind of approach can feel a bit manipulative, but here it worked for me because it fits the tone of the story. The book isn’t trying to be a traditional puzzle, it’s more about perspective and control over what is revealed and when.

Despite all these pros, I’d have to say that with multiple timelines and shifting viewpoints, it can sometimes be a disorienting experience. Maybe at times you will need to pause and reorient yourself so you won’t get lost. It’s not as detracting as it may sound, but I had to mention it. 

This story is not meant to have likable characters. They are people with lots of flaws, secrets, and emotional distance. This is what they are supposed to have, and all this fits the theme of the story. Rather than rooting for them, I found myself trying to understand them—and more importantly, trying to figure out what each of them was hiding. That sense of mistrust is one of the book’s strongest elements.

Overall, this was a very enjoyable read for me and a solid 4-star experience. It delivered exactly what I was hoping for after “Daisy Darker”: a fast-paced, twisty story wrapped in a thick, atmospheric setting.

Key Themes

• Secrets
• Deception
• Failed Marriage
• Emotional Distance
• Manipulation
• Isolation
• Control 

The Last Time We Saw Her

 Jaclyn Goldis

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐
Genre: Mystery Thriller 

A decade ago, Sydney disappeared on a remote island while being among teenagers who went for a summer camp trip. This happened during a mysterious treasure hunt. Now the same group is returning to the island for a reunion to revisit the past and participate in a documentary. 

The premise of the book is something I was very interested in, and I thought I’d enjoy it a lot. The idea of a long-buried secret that resurfaces and haunts the involved parties is also compelling. To be fair, the book succeeded in creating that dreadful, uneasy atmosphere. That tension keeps increasing as you progress in the reading. I had that feeling that every single character was hiding something.

One of the strengths of the book is its neat structure. Yes, there are multiple points of view, and the shift between past and present timelines made things somewhat confusing. However, the author clearly put thought into how the story unfolds. The pieces do come together in the end, giving you the bigger picture, even if getting there wasn’t as smooth as I would’ve liked. 

The biggest issue for me, though, was the pacing. This isn’t a particularly long book, yet it felt much longer than it actually is. Many scenes felt stretched more than needed. I feel a tighter edit would have made a huge difference, and a faster pace would have made the story more engaging. 

In terms of the characters, in general, the author did a decent job with them—especially when it comes to their history as a group of teenagers during the past. However, not all the characters are fully developed. This could be intentional, so the book won’t get longer. I might be mistaken.

The book is decent but not particularly memorable. The revelations and twists do bring some kind of closure and might give you some surprise moments, but they don’t quite elevate the tale into something special and unforgettable. In other words, that lasting impact is not as strong as I’d hoped for.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for the ARC of this book.

Key Themes

• Secrets
• Hidden Truth
• Friendship
• Betrayal
• Loyalty
• Guilt
• Identity
• Isolation

The Frenzy

 Joyce Carol Oates

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Genre: Short Stories + Literary Fiction

The Freny by Joyce Carol Oates is a collection of short stories that focuses on the haunting exploration of the boundaries between reality, memory, and grief. The book is divided into three sections, with each section having three stories.

With these stories, Oates shows off her unique ability to transform domestic anxieties into something profound—more like on the gothic side; at least this is how the stories were vividly imagined in my mind as I was reading.  

The first section has the title story with a middle-aged man who is in an affair with a much younger mistress. This one turns for him into a nightmare of abandonment and vulnerability. I see middle-aged women laughing at him and enjoying what happens to him. “The Fear” is more about living in the shadow of another person and the result of such a thing. This one felt very relevant on many fronts. 

In the second section, “The Call” was my favorite, in which a woman receives a call to find out that her entire adult life was just a dream, masking a reality she could never escape from. The final section must have been my least favorite in the book. The stories were more about our contemporary era. If I had to choose one of them, then it would be the last one due to its absurdity on the surface, yet depth from within. 

The good thing about the author’s narrative style is how she utilizes the interior monologues of these characters, which draws the reader directly into their vulnerabilities and experiences. What I noticed was that several stories in this collection were focusing on widowhood and domestic abuse themes. Yes, this can feel repetitive at times, but I believe Oates handled them very well, with much care, and the different shades of darkness of the stories helped in shaping the stories’ uniqueness.

If you appreciate psychological fiction that isn’t afraid to take you on a trip into the abyss, then this collection would work very well. Each story ends with characters reaching a point of hysterical release—making this collection live up to its title. 

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for the ARC of this book.

Key Themes

• Widowhood
• Grief
• Trauma
• Domestic Abuse
• Refuge
• Betrayal