Recent Reads: Hellbound by Stephanie Binx

Source: From the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This in no way alters my opinion or review. 

Hellbound by Stephanie Binx

Publisher: Alcove Press
Publication Date:  August 25, 2026

 

Format: Physical ARC

Rating:


Goodreads Synopsis: 

Dying is all in a day’s work for a Hell-diver like Marian—until a routine round-trip to the afterlife goes wrong—for fans of The Wren in the Holly Library and TV’s Lucifer.

Hell is empty, and all the devils are here, but nobody knows why—not even the devils themselves. Now, sadistic demons roam the earth, offering small fortunes to any mortal sucker dumb or desperate enough to die on their behalf as they retrieve artifacts from a Hell they can’t recall. Washed-up journalist Marian Meyer is one of those mortal suckers dying for a living as she fetches clues for a demonic puzzle that she doesn’t care to solve.

Riddled with debt she'll never be able to pay off and guilt over her mother's death, Marian made her first lucrative deal with a demon and never looked back. Never mind that being a Hell-diver means that she must voluntarily drown herself—or that the human body wasn’t meant to die more than once—and she’s definitely feeling it.

Unfortunately, the last time Marian went to Hell, she came back wrong. Memories of that night are missing, and she'll do anything she can to find them, including teaming up with one of her mysterious (and oddly alluring) demonic patrons, Mr. Vale. But when their tenuous alliance thrusts Marian even deeper into a world of betrayal, humans with strange powers, and demonic politics, she’ll have to decide if allying with Mr. Vale is her ticket to freedom or damnation in disguise.

One part slow-burn romance and one part acerbic wit, Hellbound is a dark, romantic contemporary fantasy perfect for readers who prefer their casts morally grey and the stakes sky-high.

Review: 
Such a fun spooky-season read. 

Marian is a Hell diver, she can die and go to Hell, retrieve items then be brought back to life in the moral realm.  Interestingly,  Hell is empty and all the Demons live in the mortal world. They are the ones that are paying her to retrieve various things that might in some way help them return. When Mr. Vale asks her to dive for a key, Marian is cautious but needs the money, so she takes the chance, coming home with something far more weird than a key she is thrust into this world more that she ever imagines she would be. 

When Mr. Vale asks Marian to dive for a key, she’s understandably cautious, but she needs the money, so she takes the chance. Of course, things don’t go quite as planned. Marian comes home with something far stranger than a key, and suddenly she finds herself pulled into a world of secrets, demons, and chaos far beyond anything she could have imagined.

Marian was a really solid FMC. I liked that she was just as confused by everything happening around her as the reader was at times, because it made the whole experience feel even more eerie and unpredictable. There were definitely moments where I was right there with her trying to figure out what the hell was going on. I think that uncertainty worked really well with the spooky, horror, and paranormal elements of the story.

One thing I especially appreciated was how the author portrayed depression and anxiety. It felt very real and, at times, painfully relatable. Even something as simple as Marian struggling to shower was included, and while some readers might find that detail a little gross, I actually appreciated it. When you're dealing with mental health struggles, getting in the shower really can feel like A TASK. Sometimes the smallest, most basic things require an enormous amount of energy, and I thought the author captured that reality really well without making it feel overly dramatic or romanticized.

The cast of characters also kept things interesting. There was a good variety of personalities, motivations, and general weirdness, and I enjoyed seeing how everyone fit into the larger story. Between the characters, the twists and turns, and the general chaos of the plot, this ended up being a pretty quick and entertaining read.

Overall, this was a fun, creepy, chaotic paranormal read with an interesting premise, a likable FMC, and plenty of twists to keep things moving. It wasn't a perfect read for me, but I had a good time with it, and I think it would be a great pick for anyone looking for something weird, spooky, and a little unhinged this time of year.

Early Reader Review: The Night by Mariachiara Di Giorgioc

Source: From the Publisher and Netgalley in Exchange for an honest review. This in no way alters my opinion or review.

The Night by Mariachiara Di Giorgio 

Publisher: NorthSouth Books
Publication Date:  September 15, 2026

 

Format: Ebook


Rating:

Synopsis: 

It’s a classically rainy night at home with the babysitter, and two siblings are itching for a little nighttime adventure. Inspired by the Brothers Grimm’s fairy tale Hansel and Gretel, the siblings sneak out of the house and into the inky night.

Unlike the well-known fairy tale, the siblings's nighttime romp through the woods is full of wonder and fun, even a new friend! Their magical friend guides the duo across streams and through open fields, not unlike the fauns of Greek mythology, to partake in the splendor of the night. And as the moon gives way to sun, so is it time for the kids to return home where beds—and Mom!—wait.

Mariachiara Di Giorgio’s lushly illustrated, wordless tale is akin to a modern-day fairy tale and perfect for reading on the darkest of nights. After all, there is so much beauty to discover hidden in the darkness. What will you find?

Review: 

This was an illustrated children's book with no text. Readers have to interpret the story which is a bit odd and confusing. The illustration is eerie and unsettling but represents the dark scary night well. It has a fantastical vibe and definitely shows that Hansel and Gretel inspiration. 

Two kids are left with a babysitter (but she feels like a grandmother or witch too). At bedtime they run into the night for adventure or to find their mother, and odd creatures and plants appear for them, they take a rest in a cave, meet a stranger...they certainly had an adventure. 

I am not sure that younger audiences will get it. Honestly, I was a bit confused and it took reading the synopsis for more insight. 

Without any text, you are left with the illustration to get you through. It was a mix of dark tones showcasing the night which gave the sense of scary/ alone feelings but also this 'you will be fine' feeling somehow without much explanation. Illustrations were great with the theme and use of darks with pops of color that were light and shone brightly in the images. 

Overall, it was visually appealing but the story was confusing. 

Early Reader Review: Fire Power by Mir Benitz

Source: From Netgalley and the Publisher in exchange for an honest review. This in no way alters my opinion or review.

Fire Power by Mir Benitz 
Publisher: Little, Brown & Company
Publication Date:  September 1, 2026

 

Format: Ebook


Rating:


Goodreads Synopsis: 

Fourth Wing meets Formula One in this enemies-to-lovers sports romantasy about a stubbornly ambitious dragon rider who goes up against her childhood friend turned racing rival in the ultimate dragon race.

The Silverscale Grand Prix is the national championship of dragon racing—a high-speed, often deadly, elite sport with an unimaginably big cash prize. 

Asta and her dragon Carmine are unlikely competitors. No sponsors, no high-tech gear, no fans out in the stands. Not to mention that a female rider hasn't won the Prix for nearly sixty years. The odds are stacked against them—but Asta is determined to prove everyone the training school that kicked her out for fighting a classmate, her family who wished she'd never left the farm, and, most of all, her infuriatingly arrogant childhood-best-friend-turned-rival Felix, the poster-boy heir to the Seraphin racing dynasty and reigning tournament champion.

Raw talent alone won't be enough to get Asta and Carmine through these races—and it soon becomes clear that the risks Asta has taken to get to Silverscale could have devastating consequences. Time to think fast, or die trying.

Review: 

I was so excited to get this book for review, I have been loving F1 and the description pulled me in. Sadly, I found the book just ok, which is a bummer. 

The story follows Asta, a dragon rider headed for Silverscale. She’s worked her way up from farm life to racing and is determined to win. While there, she reconnects with her former neighbor and rival, Felix, while also getting pulled into some shady dealings with people who want her help during the race.

Asta is our FMC, determined and stubborn, which are usually traits I enjoy in a character, but she often acts like she is much younger than she is with her dialogue and behavior. Felix, the MMC and golden-boy rival, felt somewhat oblivious, which I think was partly because of his privilege. Nat, a side character and love interest, was easily my favorite. She was mouthy and rude, but her attitude added a lot of fun to the story.

I enjoyed the race descriptions, but the racing itself felt like an odd mix of horse racing and Formula 1 without fully committing to either. I couldn’t quite grasp the mechanics of dragon racing, and the world surrounding the races was barely described beyond the track itself.

The character relationships were another weak point for me. This was marketed as a romantasy, so I expected more development in the romantic relationships, but they felt fairly shallow. Asta and Felix especially read like they were having a high school breakup every time they interacted. Asta’s constant insistence that she had done everything completely on her own also started to get annoying. Yes, she worked hard to make it to the championship, but Felix’s family gave her a dragon and allowed her to start riding in the first place...on their dragons. Her success is absolutely her own accomplishment, but I wish the story acknowledged the privilege and help she had along the way that was less whiney. 

Overall, I think the book had an interesting premise, but the execution didn’t quite work for me. I liked Nat, Asta was okay but sometimes whiny, and Felix was a fairly forgettable MMC. While there were some spicy scenes, the rest of the book read more like a Young Adult romantasy than an adult one. 

Building the Book Pile #528

​

Welcome to Building the Book Pile!

Hi everyone ~ Happy Sunday. Happy September!

On Monday of last week, I went to Boston for the day - We stopped for lunch and I got amazing coconut chicken tenders that lasted me about 3 days of lunches because there were so many. We stopped by Lovestruck Books in Cambridge and I grabbed a few F1 Romances 💕😍

And ...then we went to the Red Sox v. Mariners game for Heated Rivalry night! 🧢⚾ It was PACKED, we got there right at 4 when gates opened for the event and got our jerseys - you had a chance to get either Rozanov or Hollander. 

The whole ballpark wasn't open until 5:15... and it was so busy in the area they set up for us. 

Décor was cute, but it was hard to hear and so we just kinda found a spot and hunkered down with hot dogs.  

I love baseball. The game was amazing. Since we had to drive home though, we only stayed til the 6th inning. Beautiful night. 

The rest of the week was a whirlwind of work meetings and talking to students. I worked from home Thursday and Friday though so that was nice. On Friday night, I tried D&D with some friends for the first time and had a blast. It is monthly, so we will see if I can keep up with it. 

How was your week?

• Currently watching: Lanterns on HBO, F1 is in Italy today. 
• Currently reading: Monsieur Pain by Roberto Bolano & Cards on the Table by Lana Harper & Jilly Gagnon
• Playing: Strange Antiquities on PC - I will probably finish today

Linking up with Caffeinated Book Reviewer Sunday Post 

xo steph

Coming up on the Blog

Early Reader Review: Fire Power by Mir Benitz (Adult)

Early Reader Review: The Night by Mariachiara Di Giorgioc (Youth)

Recent Reads: Hellbound by Stephanie Binx (Adult)

Books Received Recently...  

For Review From Publishers

The Inn at the Foot of Mount Vengeance by Chiara Bullen

Night of Madness by Ryan Douglass

Rainbow Boys [25th Anniversary] by Alex Sanchez

Bought

Hearts Unchained by AG Starling

Full Throttle by JK MacLaren

Pole Position by Rebecca Caffery

Reviews and Such

Early Reader Review: A Trophy for the Jackal by Jule Wellerdiek (Youth) -⭐⭐⭐

Early Reader Review: Good Night, Break a Leg: Life with Broadway Dads by Bret Shuford (Youth) -⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Recent Reads: When the Witch Wrote Back by Nathan Christopher (Youth) - ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Monthly Re-Cap August

Donating Caffeine is greatly appreciated ... Donate on Ko-fi

What have you been reading?  How was your week? Feel free to leave a comment!

Happy Reading! 

Monthly Re-Cap: August 2026

Hello Readers, Bloggers, and Awesome people. 

Here is my August re-cap. I lots of kids book this month in prep for Halloween and Back to School

~~Books I Read in August~~

~~Some Review Links ~~

Recent Reads: Vows of Betrayal by Jessa York

Back to School Round-Up with Penguin Young Readers

Recent Reads:  For the Love of the Quest: A Novel by Alexandra Ammon Parthun

Recent Reads: Whale, That Was Unexpected by Casey Lyall 

✨Coming Soon ✨

Halloween Round Up #1

Halloween Round Up #2

August Bingo w/ Chapter Break

• For the Love of the Quest - Cozy, Found Family
• Vow - Ebook, In Series, Character from Past, Siblings, Freebie, Not Fantasy
• Pencil & Eraser - School
• Beep Beep 
• Alchemised - No in a Series, Shelf Love, Recommendation (Friend)
• Hellbound - Duty/ Responsibility, Physical
• + Free Space

17 points

Here is my plan. I finished 1 more this month

• For the Love of the Quest

7/10 completed - and that's a wrap!

Finished one new one this month

• Doe by Rebecca Barrow
• (Mostly) Human Resources 
• Pumpking Apocalypse 
• Hellbound (new)

Count: 4 to end the challenge.

Recent Reads: When the Witch Wrote Back by Nathan Christopher

Source: From Edelweiss and the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This in no way alters my opinion or review. 

When the Witch Wrote Back by Nathan Christopher, Illustrated by
Pablo Pino
Publisher: Sourcebooks Wonderland
Publication Date:  July 28, 2026

 

Format: Ebook


Rating:


Goodreads Synopsis: 

Trick or Treat! Experience the magic of Halloween as never before with this picture book packed with spooky fun and a meaningful lesson, perfect for kids ages 4-10!

A new neighbor has moved in next door, and Jake is pretty sure that only one kind of neighbor would be unpacking a cauldron, a broomstick, and a black cat. Then Jake gets an idea…who better to help him plan, prepare, and clean for his big upcoming Halloween party?! When he writes letters to The Witch requesting magic to save him from doing his chores, will Jake get all that he hopes for? Or will the Witch use her powers to teach him a valuable lesson in this delightfully charming story about the Halloween…when the Witch wrote back!

With clever and fun-to-read rhymes as well as engaging art, hilarious fall fun, and an important message of putting in the hard work, When the Witch Wrote Back! is the perfect Halloween gift or boo basket stuffer for kids! Complete with a bonus spread of tips from Jake on how to have a happy Halloween, this story is the perfect way to celebrate the spooky season! 

Dear Witch,

You think you can fool me, but I've seen the proof

• Your chimney pours potions all over your roof, 
• Your mailbox is barking and chasing a mouse, 
• And some sorta goblins are painting your house! 

You might as well help me! Let's whip up a spell

To clean up my clothing, take care of that smell,

Then hang decorations. How long will that take?

My parents might cancel the party!

From Jake

Review: 

I absolutely loved this one! 

From the first pages, I was obsessed with the illustrations. The artwork is so detailed, and there are so many little things to find (I could honestly stare at each page forever). The colors are bright and things seem to be glowing, and the whole book has such a fun, magical Halloween vibe.

Jake needs help cleaning his room before his Halloween party, and when a new neighbor moves in next door with a cauldron, broomstick, and black cat, Jake is pretty sure she's a witch. Naturally, he decides she's exactly who he needs to help him get everything done!

I loved that Jake wasn't scared of the Witch at all. Instead, he asks for help - "You're a witch? Great! Can you help me?" The Witch tries to help, but Jake keeps taking shortcuts and not quite following her instructions, and somehow every attempt leaves him with an even bigger mess.

It was so funny and playful, and I really enjoyed watching everything go completely wrong. The rhymes were fun to read, too. I also really loved the message about putting in the work instead of always looking for the easiest way out. It was a great lesson for kids without feeling overly nagging about it.

This was such a cute and fun Halloween read! I loved the artwork, the humor, the Halloween magic, and Jake's whole attitude toward the Witch. Definitely one I'd recommend for a spooky-season read!