DNF Review: Cards on the Table by Lana Harper and Jilly Gagnon

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

Cards on the Table by Lana Harper and Jilly Gagnon 

Publisher: Bantam
Publication Date: September 1, 2026  

 

Format: Ebook

Rating:
DNF

Goodreads Synopsis: 

Two witchy sisters find themselves framed for the disappearance of their elderly client’s substantial trust after her sudden death—from the New York Times bestselling author of Payback's a Witch and the critically-acclaimed author of All Dressed Up.

As descendants of one of the original Salem Witch Trial victims, Tori and Cassie Bishop’s occult credentials are strong . . . but a trickle of tarot readings won’t pay the bills, and now they're facing eviction. When they’re offered a massive sum to play “witches in residence” to an elderly widow at her secluded Berkshires mansion, it feels like fate.

But from the minute they arrive at the opulent country estate it’s they’ve been dropped into a far more dangerous game than their smoke and mirrors can save them from.

The widow, Rose, is in her final days and desperate for the sisters to help with her unresolved spiritual needs before she passes. Her skeptical family and staff, however, are less enthusiastic about the sisters’ presence—with the exception of Rose’s nurse and her beloved great-nephew, who find themselves inexplicably drawn to Cassie and Tori.

Thrown into a viper’s nest of competing motives and impenetrable intrigues, the sisters do their best to help Rose. But after Rose’s sudden death, millions of dollars disappear from the estate overnight, and Tori and Cassie quickly become the prime suspects. Someone in the house has framed the Bishop sisters, and in order to clear their names, the two must rely on their powers—magical or otherwise—to unravel the toxic family's tangled web of greed, resentment, and deceit. If they don’t, Rose won’t be the only victim at Berwyn House. . . .

Review: 

I made it 50% of the way through this one before deciding to set it aside. 

The premise had so much potential: two witch sisters invited to a mansion to help a dying woman confront her guilt, with a horrible wealthy family, occult elements, and so many secrets. The synopsis even compared it to Knives Out, which definitely caught my attention, but unfortunately, I never quite got that same feeling of mystery or intrigue.

My biggest struggle was connecting with the characters. The sisters had interesting qualities, but they felt too similar to one another, and their strained relationship made it difficult to get invested in either of them. There was so much tension and miscommunication between them that I found myself wanting more depth and from that relationship. 

The family they are forced to live with didn't fare much better for me. They came across as a collection of rude, wealthy people, but I never found them particularly interesting or worth caring about. And while there were potential love interests for both sisters,  neither really gave me a reason to root for them. It is possible that the reasons why I didn't like anyone come out by the end of the book, but I just couldn't make it that far.

The story had a few moments that were supposed to be surprising revelations or "ah ha!' moments, but they didn't quite land for me. By the halfway point, I realized I wasn't invested in uncovering the secrets or finding out what would happen next. Didn't even flip to the end.

Ultimately, this just wasn't the book for me. I can appreciate the potential in the premise, but I struggled to connect with the characters or feel drawn into the mystery. I decided to DNF at 50%, as I wasn't finding enough to keep me engaged. 

DNF Review: Spellbound by Murder by Stacie Ramey

Source: From Netgalley and the Publisher in exchange for an honest review. This in now way alters my feedback or review. 

Spellbound by Murder by Stacie Ramey 

Series: A Mystic Hollow Bookshop Mystery #1
Publisher: Crooked Lane Books

Publication Date:  March 10, 2026

 

Format: Ebook

Rating: DNF at 35%


Goodreads Synopsis: 

Gilmore Girls meets Charmed in this spellbinding cozy mystery featuring a magical bookshop run by three generations of women.

When her grandmother suffers a nasty fall and asks for help managing the family business, coffee-addicted single mother Veronica Blackthorne moves her sixteen-year-old romcom-obsessed daughter to Mystic Hollow, Connecticut. Veronica is ecstatic to return to New England but when she arrives, she quickly finds out that Mystic Hollow Books, her grandmother’s pride and joy, needs more than a little TLC.

Hoping to save the bookstore from a big box rival, Veronica enlists her sometimes-mentor and sometimes-crush Adam Whitford, a controversial but popular author, as the keynote speaker to kick off a literary festival that will hopefully bring in a new wave of customers. But when Adam turns up dead, all that romantic potential turns into a nightmare as Veronica becomes the prime suspect in his murder.

As the local sheriff investigates his murder, Veronica decides to take matters into her own hands to solve the case and clear her name. With the bookstore’s future on the line, the stakes couldn’t be higher. Until her gran reveals the biggest secret of all–the bookstore is magical and it was a botched love spell that led to this entire mess.

Witty and heartfelt, this mystery explores the price of magic and how it might be more hefty than one can hope, perfect for fans of Amanda Flower and Nina Simon.

Review: 

I was initially drawn in by the note about Gilmore Girls and Charmed vibes, but unfortunately it felt like the book wanted to be those shows rather than simply be inspired by them.  The plot felt too in the weeds with those fandoms for me to fully immerse myself in the story that was meant to be here. 

The sarcastic (or what they thought was witty) vocabulary lessons came across as more pretentious than clever, which made it harder to connect with the characters.  The mother read much younger and more naïve than I expected, and I found myself wishing the daughter and especially the grandmother had been given more depth and focus or even the spotlight really, I think I could have connected with them better. 

In the end, the plot just didn’t carve out enough of its own identity for me to stay invested. I set it down and moved on. 

That said, I think that if you are looking for something that heavily relies on its inspirations and are a lover of Gilmore Girls or charmed, this could be for you. I stopped right as they mystery was starting to unfold, so there might be some fun that I missed out on.

DNF Review: Sibylline by Melissa de la Cruz

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

Sibylline by Melissa de la Cruz 
Publisher: G.P. Putnam's Sons Books for Young Readers
Publication Date:  February 3, 2026

  

Format: Ebook

Rating:
DNF @ 20%

Goodreads Synopsis: 

Three teens infiltrate the magical ivy league in this heart-stopping dark academia romantasy, the first in a young adult duology from #1 New York Times bestselling author Melissa de la Cruz.

Raven, Atticus, and Dorian have dreamed of attending Sibylline for as long as they can remember. But when the magical ivy league rejects them, the friends’ plans of a future together studying the arcane begin crashing down.

Until they decide to steal an education.

Getting jobs on campus, they sneak into lectures and swipe forbidden texts, dodging the administration’s watchful eye. In the quiet of night, in the thrill of secrecy, their magic awakens. And so do long-buried attractions that turn their friendship into something more.

But like magic, love can create, and it can destroy. As unrequited feelings and resentment threaten to fracture their bond, the trio discovers an insidious magic that has sunk its claws into Sibylline, killing students and corroding the very bones of the university. Now the three intruders may be the key to saving the institution from wreckage . . . if they don’t wreck one another first.

DNF Review: 

After reading the above synopsis, I was so excited to pick this book up. It sounds so much like something I would love. Magic/ School/ Drama/ a love triangle possibly... amazing, right!.. right?

Sadly, this book was not for me and I stopped reading at 20%, so the review here is based on my unfinished read of this book. If you have read it and enjoyed it, I am so happy for you. 

The beginning of the book sets the scene, three older teens who have magic are trying to get into an ivy-league magical school to study. They strike out and all three are rejected. They opt to steal an education and go anyway - they will work at the college and slip into classes etc to learn. 

If a book has a good world-build, I can handle some meh characters and if there are really well written characters, I can deal with a meh world-build. This story had trouble with both things and I was so disappointed about it.... here are some of my thoughts:

As a start, this initial world build was lacking for me. It is essentially the normal world with magic added, and up to the 20% mark it wasn't wholly clear if non-magics knew about magic or not, if it was accepted etc. So that was a bummer. I also really wanted more lead up into their decision to go to this particular school versus others that might have been available. If it is Ivy, there are liked other great schools they could have been accepted into. 

I also found it very hard to connect with how they all got really cool jobs at this school. I work for an Ivy (not a brag, just a fact) and have worked at other higher education institutions as well. It is hard to get jobs at some of these campuses with little to no experience, especially cool ones like they ended up with. They are competing against the locals that need jobs, students that need jobs, AND the work- study students...it just seems a bit too much for my brain to get in line with. 

The characters were Raven, Atticus, and Dorian. They were interesting, I wanted to learn more about them and their magic and how they got to this point, but as the chapters alternated through their POVs it was hard to tell them apart. Their personalities felt flat and too similar. It was hard to keep them straight and even in the 20% I had to pop back to chapter headings to figure out who I was reading. 

Overall this just wasn't it for me. I stopped reading and think that was the best for me in that moment. If you loved this book, enjoyed it I am SO happy for you. 

Recent DNFs - August to September 2025

Sometimes a book just doesn't hit right and I am trying to take back my time and power over these ones...I don't want to struggle through them, I just want to put them down  - for now or for good. 

The below notes are just my current feelings around these books - that does NOT mean that they were bad, I just wasn't feeling them. Feel free to pick them up!

In the Did Not Finish... vibe is off, might pick back up category...

A Steeping of Blood by Hafsah Faizal

Series: Blood and Tea #2
Publisher: Farrar, Straus and Giroux
Publication Date:  September 23, 2025

 

Goodreads Synopsis:

 The epic conclusion to the #1 bestselling A Tempest of Tea by Hafsah Faizal; the gritty fantasy duology about an orphan girl and her crew who get tangled in a heist with vampires, perfect for fans of Leigh Bardugo’s Six of Crows.

She's had her tea, now she's out for blood.

White Roaring is sharpening its fangs after the deadly night that left the city in shambles. The press are dead, the public calls for justice, vampires are in danger, and amid the turmoil, the Ram announces a celebration.

Still reeling from the bloodshed, Arthie Casimir has no time to mourn the death of anyone, let alone her own. She has no time for love, either, but it had saved her life. As Arthie navigates new emotions and new allies, she must reassemble her scrambled crew and scrape what little they have left to fight one last time – and she will need to face the ghosts of her past to do it.

In Ceylan.

After the jaw-dropping ending of #1 bestselling A Tempest of Tea, Arthie and her crew still have plenty of hearts to break and crimson-red secrets to uncover. Hafsah Faizal crafts a deliciously twisty and seductive sequel that will leave readers breathless until the very last page.

Why I DNFed...

This was a very anticipated read for me and I am so bummed that it wasn't hitting right. I called it quits at about the 45% mark, so I gave it a fair shot. This is the final book in the Blood and Tea duology - I loved book one, the pacing, the adventure, the twists, and the characters really won my heart. This book just felt different. 

In this book, we have multiple POVs again - great, but I felt like the focus shifted to Flick and Jin. I really liked being in Arthie's head and following her but ok we have other characters to love. That said, my bigger issue was around the pacing. It just felt slow and staggered the whole way. It should have felt peppy and dire because they are still in the midst of a heist but this installment just didn't capture the same vibe as book 1. 

Putting this one down - might grab again, but wasn't as invested as I thought I should be to continue reading at this time. 

In the Did Not Finish … and unlikely to pick back up category...

I Killed the King by Rebecca Mix and Andrea Hannah

Publisher: Storytide
Publication Date:  September 16, 2025

  

Goodreads Synopsis:

One of Us Is Lying meets Knives Out—with beasts, murder, and magic—in this first book in a thrilling locked-room whodunnit YA fantasy duology by Andrea Hannah and New York Times bestseller Rebecca Mix.

After a decade of war, the kingdoms of Avendell and Istellia have finally agreed to peace. As nobles and magic wielders from both countries arrive at remote Castle Avendell for a historic all-night masquerade to celebrate, King Costis summons an unlikely group to his the crown prince, his Istellian bride-to-be, his personal guard, a wild beast teamer, and the palace’s questionable new healer. But before Costis can reveal why he has gathered them, the castle goes dark.

When the lights come back, the king is dead—murdered with the princess’s knife, in a weak spot only his guard knew of, and with venom from one of the beast tamer’s monsters lacing the blade.

With no clear killer—and everyone a suspect—they make a risky Tell no one until the treaty is signed. But when a winter storm seals everyone inside and someone aware of the king's untimely death begins to pick off guests one by one, the six suspects must work together to discover who killed the king . . . before one of them is next.

Why I DNFed...

I think If I was in a different mood and possibly less tired, I would have enjoyed this one. I DNFed at 36%. Really trying to give books a run for it..and because this synopsis sounded pretty epic and I was excited to read this one. 

My turnoff and inevitable 'put the book down' issue was a large cast of characters (I believe about 7 or so...). The movements through them was too quick for me to really be them, understand their angles, if they were the killer and why it mattered. 

It also had a lot of jumps to and from the past which made me confused about timeline as well. Between the volume of characters, quick transitions AND the time jumps within multiple characters it was just too much for my tired brain to handle. I think all of this might add to the mystery in the end... but I will never know. 
 

Recent DNFs

Sometimes a book just doesn't hit right and I am trying to take back my time and power over these ones...I don't want to struggle through them, I just want to put them down  - for now or for good. 

The below notes are just my current feelings around these books - that does NOT mean that they were bad, I just wasn't feeling them. Feel free to pick them up!

In the Did Not Finish... vibe is off, might pick back up category...

Fateless by Julie Kagawa 

Series: Fateless #1
Publisher: HarperCollins 
Publication Date:  July 15, 2025

  

Goodreads Synopsis: 

Deep in the forgotten city of the Deathless Kings, an ancient relic of untold power waits—for one bold enough to steal it.

When seventeen-year-old Sparrow joined the Thieves Guild she made a vow of binding loyalty to their cause. So when a mission comes along from The Circle, a group of mysterious, dangerous beings who control the Thieves Guild from the shadows, Sparrow is determined to cement her place in the guild.

What ensues is a death-defying adventure that has Sparrow and her band of thieves venturing into the heart of the forgotten city of the Deathless King. The fate of Sparrow, her companions, and Raithe, the enigmatic yet alluring assassin Sparrow is forced to join forces with during their quest, all hang in the balance as they find themselves battling ancient forces within the tombs and facing the unwavering hold of fate.

Perfect for fans of Alexandra Bracken and Sabaa Tahir, this new fantasy trilogy from New York Times bestselling author Julie Kagawa will sweep readers into a bold and exciting new world, where a twisted game of destiny has far-reaching consequences.

Why I DNFed...

I am a bit sad about this one, I wanted to love it and finish it, but I got through Part 1 ~50% done and just had no push to pick it up. At about the 15% mark I even bought the Audible edition (with my own $/credit) to see if that helped, and it did for a bit. 

I think that this has a good story in it, I am just not fully invested. Sparrow the FMC is a thief/ rogue who is young but accomplished. However, these types of characters even when young generally have the trust no one attitude and she consistently says 'every man for themselves' but she doesn't quite get it and it gets her into trouble. So the character class lost me a bit. I also felt like there was more telling than showing, and I would have loved more showing because it seems like this world could be a really cool one. 

I think I may grab this one again, just not at the moment - putting it on pause for the time being. 

If you like video games like Assassins Creed and fantasy books  - this could be for you.

In the Did Not Finish … and unlikely to pick back up category...

A Sky So Hollow by Craig Montgomery 

Series: The Stardust Duology #2
Publisher: Craig Montgomery
Publication Date:  July 7, 2025

  

Goodreads Synopsis: 

Some wounds never heal…

It’s been a few months since Casper Bell saved Novilem from crumbling under the pressure of revolution. The dust hasn’t settled, and neither has his nerves. A strange sickness is spreading in the city, and Casper is having visions about the tower Jacob sent to the Surface. Helix convinces him to bring his concerns to the Estellar council, but Helix’s trust in the system backfires. They send the pair to the last place Casper wants to be: Earth.

Casper’s past is right where he left it and corrupted aether still creeps on the streets of Chicago. When they find someone who is aether sick, it is clear they haven’t finished uncovering the council’s secrets.

With their friends and family falling sick, the fragile peace in Novilem collapsing, and the council ready to abandon the home they have fought so hard to protect, Casper and Helix must confront their inner darkness before Novilem is lost forever.

Why I DNFed 

No real fault of the author - but my ARC would not stay downloaded on my Kindle and it was driving me insane. Any time I wanted to read it would act like it never downloaded and queue up to download... then after multiple clicks finally let me into the book.

...That compounded with the fact that I was not really that invested in the characters or story, put this in the DNF pile. I enjoyed the first one and think that this one just fell at the wrong time for me.

I made it 23% in. At that point in the plot - we had covered most of the things noted in the synopsis - Casper a hero but having visions, no one taking them seriously, Helix loooooves him, and they go to Chicago for a bit and have to bring someone back because they have aether sickness. While it was flowing, I wasn't fully committed - sorry.

If you like a good sci-fi and are looking for some LGBTQ+ rep, this could be for you.

DNF Review - Party of Liars by Kelsey Cox

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

Party of Liars by Kelsey Cox 

Publisher: Minotaur Books
Publication Date: July 1, 2025

 

Format: Ebook 


Rating: 

 ~Did Not Finish @ 38%~


Goodreads Synopsis: 

A lavish, Texas-sized Sweet Sixteen turns deadly in this twisty, pulse-pounding new novel — serving up a fresh take on a classic locked-room whodunnit. Let the festivities begin…

Today is Sophie Matthews’s sixteenth birthday party, an exclusive black-tie bash in the heart of the Texas Hill Country, where secrets are as deep-rooted as the sprawling live oaks. Sophie’s dad has spared no expense, and his renovated cliffside mansion—once thought haunted—is now hosting the event of the season. Then, just before the candles on the three-tiered red velvet cake are blown out, a body falls from the balcony onto the starlit dance floor below.

It’s a killer guest list . . .

DANI: Sophie’s new stepmother who’s been plagued by self-doubt ever since the birth of her own baby girl

ÓRLAITH: the superstitious Irish nanny who senses a looming danger in this cavernous house

MIKAYLA: the birthday girl’s best friend who is not nearly as meek as the popular kids assume

KIM: the cunning ex-wife who has a grudge she can’t let go of . . .

Everyone is invited in. Not everyone will get out alive.

Review: 

I ultimately decided not to finish this book, stopping around the 38% mark. Unfortunately, the pacing was just too slow for me. By that point, I typically expect to be immersed in the core of a mystery, especially in a whodunit, but the story was still heavily focused on establishing the cast of characters rather than advancing the plot.

While character-driven stories can be compelling, I struggled to connect with anyone in the cast. The mother’s alcoholism felt like a one-note trait rather than something fully explored. The daughter came across as frustratingly oblivious, and her best friend seemed more like a passive follower than a person with her own motivations. And I’ll admit my own bias when it comes to stepmothers in fiction, but this one didn’t do herself any favors—she was mostly portrayed as a pretty face without much depth.

To its credit, the book introduced several intriguing threads early on—a mysterious note, a ghost referred to as “The Mother,” and the discovery of a body—but instead of building tension around these elements, the story meandered through alternating perspectives that never felt compelling or purposeful. The suspense didn’t build, and the emotional stakes never landed.

In the end, the combination of a slow-moving plot and a cast I couldn’t root for made it hard to stay invested. I can see how this might work better for readers who enjoy slower burn mysteries with a strong focus on interpersonal dynamics, but it just wasn’t the right fit for me.

DNF Review: Daisy Darker by Alice Feeney

Daisy Darker by Alice Feeney  

Publisher:  Flatiron Books
Publication Date:  August 30, 2022 

 

Format: Audiobook
Source: Borrowed from Libby, owned (gave away) BOTM copy.

Rating:

Did Not Finish


Goodreads Synopsis: 

After years of avoiding each other, Daisy Darker’s entire family is assembling for Nana’s 80th birthday party in Nana’s crumbling gothic house on a tiny tidal island. Finally back together one last time, when the tide comes in, they will be cut off from the rest of the world for eight hours.

The family arrives, each of them harboring secrets. Then at the stroke of midnight, as a storm rages, Nana is found dead. And an hour later, the next family member follows…

Trapped on an island where someone is killing them one by one, the Darkers must reckon with their present mystery as well as their past secrets, before the tide comes in and all is revealed.

With a wicked wink to Agatha Christie’s And Then There Were None, Daisy Darker’s unforgettable twists will leave readers reeling.

Review: 

I stopped listening to this book at 30% (~100 pages in). 

This was toted as an Agatha Christie-like mystery but it feel short for me. 

Daisy, the MC is whiney and sad through the first few chapters and her family is SO obnoxious. I waited until here was a murder to stop reading, hoping at that point it would speed up/ get better... but it was unbearable even after the mystery started. 

I kind of called all the paranormal twists... and that is NOT very Agatha Christie. She might have withheld information and reveled it at the end for the conclusion but there wasn't paranormal things. 

The reason I really stopped reading was the pacing was just so off for me. It was SO SLOW... I was listening at 2x speed hoping that would help and it didn't... that an everyone just sucked. Daisy, her family, her grandmother, all bad. The grandmother seemed like she just wanted to start things with the family, making her seem just as uppity as she perceived them... and she raised them, made them this way, so her trying to be the bigger person in the end (or seemingly so) was a loss. 

I just couldn't get passed the 'why start now?' element here... and stopped caring because in 100 pages nothing really happened.  I was disappointed and passed the book along to a friend with the disclaimer that it wasn't for me. I hope that she and others enjoyed it more. I am a huge fan of Christie, and this did not match up.

Early Reader Review: Follow the Shadows by Rosemary Drisdelle

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

Follow the Shadows by Rosemary Drisdelle 

Series: The Tales of Moerden Book 1 
Publisher:  SparkPress
Publication Date:  September 19, 2023 

 

Format: Ebook

Rating:
DNF

Goodreads Synopsis: 

When Marise Leeson gets her hands on a crystal ball, she believes her knowledge of Wicca is about to expand. The magic, however, goes horribly wrong. In short order, she’s thrown into an alternate world, attacked by a dragon, and rescued by Javeer, a young male dragon in search of a friend.

Marise is desperate to get home alive. Instead of dabbling in scrying and spells, she must now use her Wicca skills to survive in Moerden―navigating rival dragon factions, riding Javeer without falling, and dodging unknown perils of an alien landscape. Through a series of adventures and mishaps, she learns that the dragons face slow extinction from a mysterious disease. Some see Marise as part of the cause. Some hope she’s a key to a cure.

Marise grows up fast as her focus switches from escape from Moerden to saving the dragons. She draws upon her powers, intuition, and some help from home as she and Javeer begin a quest to solve the puzzle of the stagger. If they survive, and if their trust and courage are strong, they may succeed. If they do not, the dragons of Moerden will cease to exist.

Review: 

I was so sad not to enjoy this one. I read about 100 pages before I decided to stop reading. 

This book follows a young girl named Marise. She is also Wiccan. I found this a bit hard to believe but gave it a shot. She gets a crystal ball and ends up in another world with dragons. Sadly, this one didn't hit - Marise was a bit of a brat. Especially about the orb/ crystal ball. She saw her teacher with it and hyper focused to the point of being rude and eventually stealing it. And that is AFTER her teacher goes missing and she has no sense of remorse or sadness about it. She was just like 'oh! He's gone, now I can have it' and that never sat right with me. 

Past that, I found the next bit to be a bit drab and boring and there was too much telling versus showing.  

This seemed like it would be such an interesting one, but sadly it just fell really short. 

If you are looking for a book about dragons, you might enjoy this more than I did. I also liked that there was a different religious perspective, but I don't really think it was conveyed well. 

Recent Reads: Thistlefoot by GennaRose Nethercott

Thistlefoot by GennaRose Nethercott 

Publisher: Anchor Books
Publication Date:  September 13, 2022

 

Format: Hardback
Source: BOTM October 2022

Rating:
DNF - 1 Star

Goodreads Synopsis: 

In the tradition of modern fairytales like American Gods and Spinning Silver comes a sweeping epic rich in Eastern European folklore--a debut novel about the ancestral hauntings that stalk us, and the uncanny power of story.

The Yaga siblings--Bellatine, a young woodworker, and Isaac, a wayfaring street performer and con artist--have been estranged since childhood, separated both by resentment and by wide miles of American highway. But when they learn that they are to receive a mysterious inheritance, the siblings are reunited--only to discover that their bequest isn't land or money, but something far stranger: a sentient house on chicken legs.

Thistlefoot, as the house is called, has arrived from the Yagas' ancestral home in Russia--but not alone. A sinister figure known only as the Longshadow Man has tracked it to American shores, bearing with him violent secrets from the past: fiery memories that have hidden in Isaac and Bellatine's blood for generations. As the Yaga siblings embark with Thistlefoot on a final cross-country tour of their family's traveling theater show, the Longshadow Man follows in relentless pursuit, seeding destruction in his wake. Ultimately, time, magic, and legacy must collide--erupting in a powerful conflagration to determine who gets to remember the past and craft a new future.

An enchanted adventure illuminated by Jewish myth and adorned with lyrical prose as tantalizing and sweet as briar berries, Thistlefoot is an immersive modern fantasy saga by a bold new talent.

Review: 

I am sad about this one, I wanted to love it ... or even like it for that matter and sadly it was just too slow, and I was not invested enough to care to finish it. 

I DNFed this book at ~40%, I had been trying to read it for the last month, and in the meantime also finished many other books while avoiding it. The story is about a brother and sister that are pretty much estranged, but come together when they inherit the chicken-legged house. Now in order to pay off her side of the house and own it outright, Bellatine is helping her brother Isaac put on a puppet show... but there is also someone trying to find the house. At almost halfway through, there were no climaxes in the story at all, and I needed something to keep going and it just never came. I got to a section where they are sitting in a diner and talking and then Isaac has a flashback about a friend named Benji... and I tried to skip it... it was at that point that I realized the character building/ flashbacks that were meant to build were just depressing me and so I called it quits.

Where I think this book went wrong was in the pacing. It was so unbearably slow for too long. There are oh moments here and there but not with the characters we are meant to invest in. It also has a weird past/present issue that irked me... are we set in modern times with cell phones or are we in the 1930's because it oddly felt like both and maybe that was meant to bring on an 'old-soul' feel but it was just odd in context. 

I also still wanted more from this world - it was magical realism, so it was supposed to be able to set magic down in our world and ride it out, but I found the magic to be forced and not as seamless as I like my magical realism settings to be.

So, overall, this was not for me... however if you are looking for something slower paced, you might enjoy it.