Review: A Thief Among Fae by Maddy Calder

Title: A Thief Among Fae
Author: Maddy Calder
Series: Of Thieves & Tombs #1
Publication: September 16, 2026
Genre: Fantasy Romance
Find it on: Amazon US | Amazon CA | Amazon UK | Amazon DE | Amazon BE | Amazon AU
Rating: 4/5★

She’s the key to the cursed tomb that can save his people. He’s the prince who promises her the ultimate treasure—but only if she binds her soul to his own.

Cynthia's magic is only good for one thing: raiding deadly tombs.

Desperate to buy a better future for her ailing sister, Cynthia enters a soul-binding bargain with a frustratingly handsome fae prince. Her task? Help him break into a king’s cursed tomb for the heist of a lifetime.

But allying with Desmond puts Cynthia in the crosshairs of his blood-soaked past. He’s scorned by his own kingdom, hunted by assassins, and infuriatingly sarcastic. Cynthia despises him—except he sees potential in her magic that she’s never dared to see in herself.

What Cynthia doesn’t know is that Desmond is a necromancer, a power forbidden by the gods, and he’ll do anything to free his people. Crossing him will cost her life, but the irresistible pull between them might cost her heart.

A Thief Among Fae is the start of a slow-burn fantasy romance series, packed with sword fights, perilous adventures, and a dash of necromancy. Perfect for fans of Skyrim and daring heroines like Lara Croft.

A Thief Among Fae is Maddy Calder's debut novel and honestly? You'd never guess this was a debut novel because the writing feels like the work of someone who's been writing books for years. It was a really good story with fantastic characters and very well-written. I'm already looking forward to the next book!

The story follows Cynthia a.k.a. Cyn who's been tomb raiding with the help of her magic in hopes of securing her parents and younger sister a better future. When she makes a binding deal with the mysteryious fae prince Desmond, who's also known as the Prince of Death, she joins him and a crew of thieves on a mission to break into a cursed king’s tomb. But as they face deadly dangers and uncover secrets about Desmond’s forbidden necromancy, their growing attraction makes the bargain far more complicated than either expected.

I do have to admit it took me a good 25%-30% to really get into the story. TThe beginning was a little slow, probably because there was quite a bit of world-building needed to properly set the scene. But this was totally worth it once I got to know more acquainted with this fantasy world and the characters in it. I ended up really falling in love with the story. What I loved the most was the adventure of the tomb raiding (I cannot express how fun this was to read about!) and how there was almost non-stop action. This made for a really exciting read!

Also, if you mention necromancy in a fantasy book, I'm so there and I was not left disappointed with it in A Thief Among Fae. On top of that, I really enjoyed the romance. The slow-burn between Cynthia and Desmond had plenty of chemistry and tension, without ever taking over the main plot. The secondary characters were also all a great bunch to read about and each brought something unique to the story that I ended up loving.

A Thief Among Fae by Maddy Calder had everything I look for in a fantasy romance: dangerous adventures, magic, fae, a cursed tomb and a slow-burn romance with plenty of tension. It was a solid debut that left me excited to see where the series goes next.

About the author:

Maddy Calder writes fantasy romances filled with ruthless fae, impossible bargains, dangerous magic, and love worth risking everything for. A lifelong lover of enchanted worlds, Maddy creates stories for readers who believe the best adventures begin with a little danger and end with a happily ever after. When not writing, Maddy can be found playing cozy video games, sewing, or reading with a cup of peppermint tea.

Website | Instagram | Facebook | TikTok | Goodreads

 

Review: The Intimate Afterlife of Myth by Venus Gunyeli

Title: The Intimate Afterlife of Myth: Ancient Stories for the Inner Life
Author: Venus Gunyeli
Publication: August 14, 2026
Genre: Nonfiction, Mythology, Psychology
Find it on: Amazon US | Amazon AU | Amazon CA | Amazon BE
Rating: 4/5★

MYTH IS NOT OVER.

It survives in the choices we repeat, the losses we carry, and the questions that return when certainty gives way.

What if the figures of myth were not distant symbols, but lives we could approach more closely—lives shaped by love and loyalty, power and error, grief and change?

The Intimate Afterlife of Myth revisits ten Greek and Mesopotamian myths, from Persephone and Gilgamesh to Inanna, Psyche, Hector, and Prometheus. Rather than reducing them to simple lessons or fixed interpretations, the book stays with the psychological and emotional questions their stories leave unresolved and with the ways those questions still echo in modern life.

Each chapter brings together:

• Literary myth retellings grounded in ancient sources
• Thoughtful explorations of what each story leaves unresolved
• Imagined voices that draw the mythic figures closer
• Reflective questions and space for personal integration

Read from beginning to end, return to the figure whose story calls to you, or follow one of the thematic paths offered at the close of the book.

Neither a conventional mythology collection nor a prescriptive self-help book, this is an invitation to remain with ancient stories long enough to recognise where they continue and what becomes visible when their questions meet your own.

For readers drawn to Greek and Mesopotamian mythology, psychology, literary reflection, and ancient stories that still speak to modern life.

"A path does not have to be visible before movement begins. For now, one direction is enough."

The Intimate Afterlife of Myth offers a thoughtful, intimate look at myths that have survived for thousands of years, from Mesopotamian to Greek myths. I love it when mythology feels less like something from the distant past and more like something we can still see ourselves in. And this book shows exactly just how timeless these stories and the questions they raise can be.

I really liked how each chapter began with a short retelling of a myth rooted in ancient sources, then explored the unanswered questions surrounding it, delved into what the character themselves may have thought, and ended with some thoughtful self-reflection. I enjoyed this unique format and how the book falls somewhere between an exploration of mythology and personal reflection, both of which really spoke to me.

Overall, The Intimate Afterlife of Myth: Ancient Stories for the Inner Life by Venus Gunyeli was an insightful and nuanced examination of mythology that gave me a new way of looking at these ancient stories.

About the author:

Venus Gunyeli is an Istanbul-born writer interested in what stories, traditions, and forms of knowledge become as they pass from one life and one era into another.

Her interest in ancient cultures began in childhood and has remained a quiet constant in the way she reads and understands the world. Her work turns to ancient texts, inherited practices, and cultural memory without treating the past as a storehouse of ready-made answers. She is drawn instead to what survives change: the questions a story continues to hold, the knowledge carried through ordinary acts, and the meanings that shift when old forms enter new lives.

Across her books, this has led her from the healing traditions and everyday knowledge of Anatolia to contemplative practice inspired by Rumi, and most recently to the unresolved human questions held within Greek and Mesopotamian myth.

Years spent working within holistic wellness and exploring movement disciplines deepened her attention to the ways inner life, the body, and everyday experience continually shape one another. Art and music have long been part of how she notices image, rhythm, atmosphere, and form.

She lives near the Aegean coast and writes about what we inherit, what we alter, and what remains.

Amazon | Instagram | Goodreads

 

Review: Chill Out and Cheer Up by Grace Grossmann

Title: Chill Out and Cheer Up: A Ten-Step Guide
Author: Grace Grossmann
Genre: Nonfiction, Self Help, Mental Health
Find it on: Amazon US | Amazon UK | Amazon CA | Amazon BE
Rating: 5/5★

You're on your healing journey. You've done the work.

The journaling. The yoga. Therapy. Even the green smoothies. The late nights researching how to feel better. But some days, guilt still creeps in the moment you think you should be doing more.

You've survived a world built on hustle, comparison, and burnout. You've played by the rules, and now you're asking the bigger questions: What's my purpose? What actually brings me joy? Who am I outside of everything I've been told to be?

You deserve to chill out and cheer up — not stress out and give up.

Grace knows exactly how you feel — because she has lived every word of this book.

She has been through the burnout, the self-doubt, grief, the anxiety, and the quiet desperation of trying to hold it all together while falling apart inside. She has navigated the systems that told her to keep going, keep achieving, keep shrinking — until she finally stopped, breathed, and chose herself instead.

Grace wrote this book because she needed it first. And now she is handing it to you.

"This is your very own portable wellness coach" — a warm, no-guilt companion that meets you exactly where you are, not where you think you should be. Whether you are five minutes into your healing journey or five years in, these pages will remind you that your peace was never something you had to earn.

Inside, you'll discover

• Practical, bite-sized tools you can apply to your life immediately
• Simple mindset shifts to quiet the inner critic and silence the guilt
• Strategies for managing stress, building resilience, and bouncing back
• A fresh perspective on personal growth that feels human, not hustle-driven
• Real guidance to reconnect with your purpose and rediscover what lights you up
• Daily encouragement to build healthy habits — without the pressure and with an eJournal

Readers are calling it a game-changer:

"From the first page, it pours out so much positivity and encouragement. The author has a remarkable way of breaking down complex concepts into easy-to-understand, bite-sized pieces that are immediately applicable to everyday life. Each chapter is filled with insights that helped me shift my mindset and approach challenges with a new perspective."

[5 stars] Verified Purchase · United States

"An uplifting read that will leave you feeling empowered and ready to take on whatever life throws your way. I find myself returning to certain sections time and again for a boost of motivation and encouragement."

[5 stars] Verified Purchase · United States

This is not another book telling you to hustle harder, wake up earlier, or become someone you are not. This is Grace permitting you to breathe. To rest. To remember that you are already worthy of a joyful, peaceful, purpose-filled life. To treat yourself with grace and slow down your pace.

You are not broken. You are not behind. Your peace and power have been inside you all along.

It's time to chill out, cheer up, and come home to yourself.

I first read Chill Out and Cheer Up five years ago in 2021 (seriously, where does the time go?!), but when I learned that Grace Grossmann had released a revised edition, I knew I had to read it again. And I'm so happy to say that I enjoyed it even more the second time around. I even bought myself a physical copy so I could highlight with some bright colors and annotate the book a little. I had so much fun with this that I ended up reading it in one single sitting!

I feel like taking care of yourself whether it's mentally or physically has become even more important in 2026. I know I've been working even more on it. Life can be hard in so many ways, which is why I think we need books just like this one.

One of the things I appreciated most about this revised edition is how open and honest the author is. She didn't shy away from letting her readers know that even she goes through hard times, as we all do. It only shows that we're all just human, that no one has everything figured out all the time, nor do we need to. I also loved how she added comments in italics as a reflection on what she wrote five years ago. These were really great to read!

I enjoyed rereading all the tips and tricks that I found helpful the first time around. Some of them I still practice to this day, while others I’d like to start implementing again like more positive thinking, connection with nature and maybe a little less scrolling on my phone.

Once again, I found Chill Out and Cheer Up: A Ten-Step Guide by Grace Grossmann inspiring and incredibly helpful. I just know that other readers won't regret picking it up and will get just as much out of it as I did.

About the author:

A passionate-driven mentor here to spread awareness on Mental Health and mindfulness after dealing with grief, heartbreaks, and mental breakdown. She aims to grace your life with positivity. Her books are “guides you don’t see every day but are like a conversation with a friend”.

Since losing her best friend at 21, she has honed her ability to lead with love. As a writer, well-being coach, yoga instructor, and kindergarten teacher, Grace believes we all have the power to lead a happy and healthy life. Her mission is to show people it is OK to not feel OK; emotional intelligence and healing can lead the way.

Her non-fiction books include humorous and humble accounts of Grace's spiritual journey to show that reality is always going to hit, but you can get through it. She connects with the reader in an encouraging and
lighthearted way through a steady flow of engaging content including practical exercises, food for thought, poems and good laughs.

Amazon | Instagram | Goodreads

 

Review: How Lumi Learned to Fly by David Michael

Title: How Lumi Learned to Fly: The Little Butterfly that Learned to Believe in Herself
Author: David Michael
Illustratior: Raees Asma
Publication: August 24, 2026
Genre: Children's, Picture Book, Self-Esteem/Personal Growth
Find it on: Amazon US | Amazon UK | Amazon CA | Amazon AU | Amazon BE
Rating: 4/5★

How Lumi Learned to Fly

Lumi has always dreamed of flying.

But when the time comes to spread her wings, Lumi discovers that learning to fly isn’t as easy as she imagined. With a little courage, determination, and encouragement from those who believe in her, Lumi begins to discover that sometimes the hardest part of reaching your dreams is simply believing you can.

Join Lumi on a sweet and inspiring adventure as she learns to face her fears, keep trying when things don’t go as planned, and discover the confidence that was inside her all along.

How Lumi Learned to Fly is a heartwarming story about courage, perseverance, self-confidence, and believing in yourself. Young readers will love following Lumi’s journey as she learns that mistakes and challenges are simply part of growing and learning.

A wonderful read for parents, teachers, and caregivers looking for a gentle story that encourages children to:

• Believe in themselves
• Try again when something feels difficult
• Face new challenges with courage
• Learn from mistakes
• Discover their own unique strengths

Sometimes, you don't need to know how to fly before you spread your wings. You just need to be brave enough to try.

Let Lumi show you that anything is possible when you believe in yourself!

"It wasn't fear anymore—it was something lighter. Something brave."

How Lumi Learned to Fly is a short, sweet and heartwarming story about believing in yourself and never giving up. I almost never read children’s books like this one but I ended up enjoying it nontheless, especially because of its lovely message.

I also really loved the beautiful illustrations (made by Raees Asmar), which brought the story to life. Lumi is such a cute butterfly! I’m more than sure that small kids will be drawn to pictures as well. I can totally see this book finding a beloved spot in libraries alongside other books about animals, self-esteem and growing and learning.

Overall, How Lumi Learned to Fly: The Little Butterfly that Learned to Believe in Herself by David Michael is a sweet and inspiring story that leaves young readers with a wonderful reminder to believe in themselves.

About the author:

David Michael, the pen name of Mike Dreyfuss, is a pediatric occupational therapist with more than 10 years of experience helping children with special needs build confidence, independence, and essential life skills. Inspired by the children and families he works with each day, he began writing children’s books that encourage important virtues such as courage, patience, kindness, and perseverance. Through heartfelt stories and memorable characters, David hopes to inspire every child—especially those who struggle with self-confidence—to believe in themselves, face their fears, and discover the strength they already have inside.

David lives in Texas with his wife and their two young children, who continue to inspire his stories and remind him of the magic found in everyday moments. Amazon | Facebook | Instagram

 

Review: Mythica by Emily Hauser

Title: Mythica: A New History of Homer’s World, Through the Women Written Out of It
Author: Emily Hauser
Publication: April 17, 2025 by Transworld
Genre: Nonfiction, Ancient History
Find it on: Amazon UK | Amazon US | Kobo | Libro | Waterstones
Rating: 5/5★

Did you love Madeline Miller’s Circe? Pat Barker’s The Silence of the Girls? Jennifer Saint's Elektra? Natalie Haynes’ A Thousand Ships?

But did you ever wonder who the real women behind the myths of the Trojan War were?

Now award-winning classicist and historian Emily Hauser takes readers on an epic journey to uncover the astonishing true story of the real women behind ancient Greece’s greatest legends – and the real heroes of those ancient epics, Homer's Iliad and Odyssey.

Because, contrary to perceptions built up over three millennia, ancient history is not all about men – and it's not only men's stories that deserve to be told . . .

In Mythica Emily Hauser tells, for the first time, the extraordinary stories of the real women behind some of the western world’s greatest legends. Following in their footsteps, digging into the history behind Homer’s epic poems, piecing together evidence from the original texts, recent astonishing archaeological finds and the latest DNA studies, she reveals who these women – queens, mothers, warriors, slaves – were, how they lived, and how history has (or has not – until now) remembered them.

A riveting new history of the Bronze Age Aegean and a journey through Homer’s epics charted entirely by women – from Helen of Troy, Briseis, Cassandra and Aphrodite to Circe, Athena, Hera, Calypso and Penelope – Mythica is a ground-breaking reassessment of the reality behind the often-mythologized women of Greece’s greatest epics, and of the ancient world itself as we learn ever more about it.

History is about which facts we choose to recall. It's not that women weren't there in the historical record, or that they weren't making a name for themselves. It's simply that, in the past, women weren't chosen to be remembered.

Mythica by Emily Hauser takes its reader on a journey of the Bronze Age Aegean and Homer’s epics, explored through women’s stories. This book completely blew me away. I loved every minute of it, and it has easily become my favorite book of the year.

Emily Hauser seamlessly weaves together historical records, scientific discoveries and archaeological findings with Homer’s mythological stories. I was fascinated by the way she connected the myths to what we know about the Bronze Age Aegean, while putting the women of these stories at the center. I learned so much from this book, and I honestly couldn’t put it down.

The first part of the book, *Iliad: Women in War*, has chapters focusing on women like Helen: The Face, Briseis: The Slave, Hecuba: The Queen, and Thetis: The Mother. I really loved how Hauser pieced together the myths and historical evidence through their stories. I thought this was such a fascinating and engaging way to tell the history of Bronze Age life and the women living in it.

The second part of the book, Odyssey: Women at Home and Away, follows the same format, with chapters focusing on Athena: The Shapeshifter, Nausicaa: The Bride, and Circe: The Witch. I really enjoyed seeing these characters explored in the same way, and Hauser once again does a great job of bringing together mythology and historical evidence about the ancient world.

Mythica: A New History of Homer’s World, Through the Women Written Out of It by Emily Hauser was nothing short of brilliant. A must-read for anyone studying Homer, loves his epic poems or simply anyone who loves mythology and women's history. I can't recommend it enough!

About the author:

Emily Hauser is an award-winning ancient historian and Times bestselling author of Mythica: A New History of Homer’s World, through the Women Written Out Of It (Penguin Random House 2025). She studied Classics at Cambridge with Mary Beard, where she took a double first with distinction and won the prestigious Chancellor’s Medal for Classical Proficiency; with a PhD in Classics from Yale and a Junior Fellowship at the Harvard University Society of Fellows, she is also the author of the acclaimed Golden Apple trilogy retelling the stories of the women of Greek myth.

Website | Instagram | Goodreads

 

 

Review: Agrippa by Robert Harris

Title: Agrippa
Author: Robert Harris
Publication: September 1, 2026 by Doubleday
Genre: Historical Fiction
Find it on: Amazon | Blackwell's | Libro | Waterstones
Rating: 2/5★

From the #1 internationally bestselling author of Conclave and Dictator, a gripping tale of ancient Rome’s descent into dictatorship

He was born feet first, a dangerous way to enter the world. His mother did not survive, and the nickname, Agrippa—mother killer—stuck. But the schoolyard taunting only served to harden his resolve and hone his predilection for aggression. In time, the name lost its sting and became instead a mark of his invincibility. It came to shape his destiny.

Agrippa was a mere commoner, a plebeian, his father a humble Stoic, but he earned the respect and fear of his peers. He defended a bullied young boy, Octavius, who turned out to be the nephew of Caesar himself, a chance encounter that would change the trajectory of his life. He eventually joined the ranks of the legionnaires and marched against their enemies. His prowess on the battlefield spoke for itself, and Caesar relied on him to protect his favored nephew. When Caesar was murdered in the Senate, Octavius inherited the empire in name only. To assume the mantle he would have to fight for it, and Agrippa, forever by his side, would be his closest advisor and the merciless agent of his military will.

As gripping and full of intrigue as his bestselling novel Conclave, Agrippa is Robert Harris’s monumental return to the world of ancient Rome on the precipice of dictatorship, a novel for our times.

I couldn't have been more excited for Robert Harris to return to writing about ancient Rome and I was even more thrilled that it would be a novel about Agrippa. Sadly enough I was left quite a bit disappointed as the story dragged on very slowly for me and felt more like a dry textbook than historical fiction to me.

Agrippa's birth claimed his mother's life, earning him the nickname "mother killer." Born a commoner, he rose through courage and military skill. A chance meeting with Caesar's nephew, Octavius, changed his destiny, leading him to help forge the Roman Empire. In Agrippa by Robert Harris, he finally tells his own tale.

The story is told as a memoir written by Agrippa shortly before his death, where we get his point of view of how Octavius/Augustus rose to power along with himself. The dialogue took some getting used to because of its unusual structure. The narration relies more on Agrippa's inner thoughts than on conversations and I found myself wishing there had been more dialogue.

Unfortunately, Agrippa by Robert Harris didn't quite work for me. While I appreciated learning more about Agrippa's life (which was truly remarkable) the slow pace, textbook-like writing and the focus on Agrippa's inner thoughts instead of dialogue made it hard for me to connect with the story.

About the author:

Robert Harris is the author of sixteen bestselling novels: the Cicero Trilogy - Imperium, Lustrum and Dictator - Fatherland, Enigma, Archangel, Pompeii, The Ghost, The Fear Index, An Officer and a Spy, which won four prizes including the Walter Scott Prize for Historical Fiction, Conclave, Munich, The Second Sleep, V2, Act of Oblivion and Precipice. His work has been translated into forty languages and nine of his books have been adapted for cinema and television. He lives in West Berkshire with his wife, Gill Hornby.

 

 

Review: Seduced by the Werewolf Highwaymen by Eva Leigh

Title: Seduced by the Werewolf Highwaymen
Author: Eva Leigh
Series: Den of Thieves #1
Publication: July 8, 2026
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Find it on: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo
Rating: 3/5★

In USA TODAY bestselling author Eva Leigh’s passionate new tale, there’s nothing more dangerous—or seductive—than a trio of werewolf highwaymen on the hunt…

When three dashing highwaymen hold up the carriage Jessica Colfax is traveling in, some might call it bad luck.

For Jessica, it’s an invitation to seduction. Little does she know that these highwaymen hold a secret—they’re werewolves. And the three supernatural thieves are determined to use every weapon in their sensuous arsenal to make her theirs.

But Jessica has her own secrets. Soon, she’ll have to make the ultimate choice. Will she choose duty…or desire…?

Seduced by the Werewolf Highwaymen is a steamy why choose paranormal romance, and Book 1 in the Den of Thieves series.

Seduced by the Werewolf Highwaymen by Eva Leigh is a spicy 'why choose' historical paranormal romance. It was a quick read with steamy romance scenes and fun characters to read about.

Aside from a few flaws this was an entertaining read. I enjoyed reading about Jessica and her three highwaymen, (Ezra, Tej, Rhys) who just so happened to be werewolves. I love a good 'why choose' romance and although it wasn't my favorite of all time I still liked the story and its characters well enough.

It was a rather short read so there wasn't a whole lot of time for more character and world building which, I think, would've made the story a little more stronger and solid. What I loved the most was how Jessica (or Lady Vixen as her werewolves called her) was her own person, owning her sexuality and didn't take any bullshit. I also liked that she could take care of herself and didn't need Ezra, Tej and Rhys to neccesarilt rescue her all the time.

Seduced by the Werewolf Highwaymen had Eva Leigh's trademark strong heroine, steamy romance and droolworthy heroes. It could've used a little more work on the world building, in my opinion. And I wanted to learn more about the characters in general but in the end it was a pretty fun ride!

About the author:

Eva Leigh is a USA Today bestselling romance author. A graduate of the Iowa Writers’ Workshop, her books have been featured by the New York Times, NPR, Oprah Daily, the Washington Post, Entertainment Weekly, Library Journal, Kirkus, Booklist, Self, Paste Magazine, and many more. Her work has also been translated into numerous languages. She lives on the Central California coast with her husband and cats.

Eva is represented by Deidre Knight of The Knight Agency

Website | Instagram | Bluesky | TikTok | Goodreads