Tag: character driven

Book Review | The Good Sister by Sally Hepworth

Posted February 13, 2026 by Haze in Book Reviews / 1 Comment

The Good Sister by Sally Hepworth

Sally Hepworth, the author of The Mother-In-Law delivers a knock-out of a novel about the lies that bind two sisters in The Good Sister.

There’s only been one time that Rose couldn’t stop me from doing the wrong thing and that was a mistake that will haunt me for the rest of my life.

Fern Castle works in her local library. She has dinner with her twin sister Rose three nights a week. And she avoids crowds, bright lights and loud noises as much as possible. Fern has a carefully structured life and disrupting her routine can be…dangerous.

When Rose discovers that she cannot get pregnant, Fern sees her chance to pay her sister back for everything Rose has done for her. Fern can have a baby for Rose. She just needs to find a father. Simple.

Fern’s mission will shake the foundations of the life she has carefully built for herself and stir up dark secrets from the past, in this quirky, rich and shocking story of what families keep hidden.

For the Reading Challenge(s):
2026 52 Book Club Reading Challenge (Prompt #19: A nosy neighbor character)

The Reason

I have enjoyed Sally Hepworth’s books in the past and this one sounded good.

The Quotes

“The library belongs to everyone. The library, Janet used to say, is one of only a few places in the world that one doesn’t need to believe anything or buy anything to come inside.”

“I’d always found there was something agreeable about people who liked dogs and something untrustworthy about those who didn’t.”

“If it were up to me, every child would have a year in the library before they went to school.”

“Sisterly relationships are so strange in this way. The way I can be mad at Rose but still want to please her. Be terrified of her and also want to run to her. Hate her and love her, both at the same time. Maybe when it comes to sisters, boundaries are always a little bit blurry. Blurred boundaries, I think, are what sisters do best.”

The Narrator(s)

Barrie Kreinik. She was overall good, but there were times when her voices for each character was inconsistent and I wasn’t sure who was talking.

My Thoughts

This is one of the best mystery thrillers I’ve read in a while. I was so incredibly invested in the story and it really felt like I had my heart in my throat for most of the second half of the book. The first half was also very interesting because Fern’s POV read like a wholesome romance, while Rose’s POV was so sad and difficult to read at times.

I did figure out early on what was happening, but it didn’t ruin the story for me because the journey from beginning to the end was just so good. These are some of the most interesting characters I’ve come across and I especially love Wally/Rocco’s character. To be clear, some of these characters aren’t necessarily good people and I do question some of their actions, but they are so interesting to read about and get to know as we move through the book.

It’s early in the year and I already feel like this may be one of my favorite books this year. I would be very happy to be proven wrong because that only means that I’ll have many more great books to look forward to, but this one was just incredible.

My Rating

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐/5 stars.

Have you read this book? Would you read this book? Did you like the book or do you think you would like it?

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Book Review | Emily Wilde’s Compendium of Lost Tales by Heather Fawcett

Posted April 17, 2025 by Haze in Book Reviews / 0 Comments

Emily Wilde’s Compendium of Lost Tales by Heather Fawcett

Emily Wilde has spent her life studying faeries. A renowned dryadologist, she has documented hundreds of species of Folk in her Encyclopaedia of Faeries. Now she is about to embark on her most dangerous academic project studying the inner workings of a faerie realm-as its queen.

Along with her former academic rival-now fiancé-the dashing and mercurial Wendell Bambleby, Emily is immediately thrust into the deadly intrigues of Faerie as the two of them seize the throne of Wendell’s long-lost kingdom, which Emily finds a beautiful nightmare, filled with scholarly treasures.

Emily has been obsessed with faerie stories her entire life, but at first she feels as ill-suited to Faerie as she did to the mortal world-how could an unassuming scholar like herself pass for a queen? Yet there is little time to settle in-Wendell’s murderous stepmother has placed a deadly curse upon the land before vanishing without a trace. It will take all of Wendell’s magic-and Emily’s knowledge of stories-to unravel the mystery before they lose everything they hold dear.

For the Reading Challenge(s):
2025 52 Book Club Reading Challenge (Prompt #38: An adventure story)

The Reason

I enjoyed the first two books and I love the characters.

The Quotes

“I have learned there is one thing a person never tires of, no matter how long they live. And that is being in love. All else is ash and ember.”

“Shadow’s world was one in which all and sundry either fawned over him or kept a respectful distance from his intimidating bulk. Each time Orga hissed at him, Shadow seemed to assume it a misunderstanding, which grew increasingly improbable as these incidents accumulated, but still less improbable, in his view, than being disliked.”

“Stories are the architecture of Faerie, more powerful than magic, more powerful than kings.”

“Such is the way with librarians, who are almost as unpredictable as the Folk, some minatory and persnickety, others overflowing with warmth towards humanity at large.”

My Thoughts

I loved the first book but I thought the second wasn’t as strong as the first. Many people have expressed that they thought this book might be the weakest of the three, and in terms of stories, I agree. The story felt weak and unnecessarily drawn out, especially towards the end, but I’m giving it the benefit of the doubt and assuming that it might be a possible set up for the next books. Still unnecessary though, and it could’ve been done better if so.

However, my expectations for this book was lower this time and I ended up enjoying it very much. I especially love the little bits of comedy and relationship scenes. I love the banter between Emily and Wendell, and I love the little things he did to show how much he loved and respected her. I also loved Orga and Shadow, and I loved how interesting the other characters are as well. I think the best thing about this book is the characters, and I always want to know more about them.

It’s funny because it feels like it’s the side stories and backstories of these characters that keep me coming back. I’m not sure I love the overarching stories at this point, but I would absolutely read the next book(s) just because I can’t get enough of the characters. To be fair, the main story of this book wasn’t bad, I just feel like it wasn’t enough. I hope the main stories in future books get better.

My Rating

⭐⭐⭐⭐/5 stars.

Have you read this book? Would you read this book? Did you like the book or do you think you would like it?

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Book Review | Fred, the Vampire Accountant series by Drew Hayes

Posted January 12, 2025 by Haze in Book Reviews / 1 Comment

Fred, the Vampire Accountant series by Drew Hayes

Some people are born boring. Some live boring. Some even die boring. Fred managed to do all three, and when he woke up as a vampire, he did so as a boring one. Timid, socially awkward, and plagued by self-esteem issues, Fred has never been the adventurous sort.

One fateful night – different from the night he died, which was more inconvenient than fateful – Fred reconnects with an old friend at his high school reunion. This rekindled relationship sets off a chain of events thrusting him right into the chaos that is the parahuman world, a world with chipper zombies, truck driver wereponies, maniacal necromancers, ancient dragons, and now one undead accountant trying his best to “survive.” Because even after it’s over, life can still be a downright bloody mess.

For the Reading Challenge(s):
2024 Audiobook Challenge

The Reason

I read the Super Powereds series and loved it, and someone recommended this series to me by the same author.

The Narrator(s)

Kirby Heyborne. He is amazing, I love his narration so much! Listening to him over 8 books in the series is just so wonderful, his voice is Fred for me.

My Thoughts

This is a general review for Books 1 through 8 of the series. There is supposed to be a Book 9 coming out and I’ll probably update this review once I’ve read that, because I purely intend to read it. As of right now though, I’m reviewing the series as a whole.

One of the things I love most about Drew Hayes’ books are the characters; they are all so vibrant and larger than life. Each story in the books really allows us to get to know the characters, and the deeper we get into the books, the better we get to know all of them and come to love them. Fred is such a compelling character and we can’t help but find him charming and relatable. He grows as we go, and there are things he learns as a vampire in the parahuman community that requires him to adapt and evolve but he tries hard to stay true to his values and protect the things and people he cares about.

Another thing I love about the author’s books are the found family element. You know I cannot resist a found family story, and this series is so strongly found family-oriented. I love these characters like family and I was so sad when I thought Book 8 was the final book because I never wanted it to end. I found out there was going to be a Book 9 and I’m estatic! Obviously I know all good things must come to an end, but I’m glad I’ve still got another book to spend with these characters.

I love this series and I believe it will be one I come back to in the future for multiple rereads!

My Rating

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐/5 stars.

Have you read this book? Would you read this book? Did you like the book or do you think you would like it?

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Book Review | A Closed and Common Orbit by Becky Chambers

Posted January 12, 2025 by Haze in Book Reviews / 1 Comment

A Closed and Common Orbit by Becky Chambers

Lovelace was once merely a ship’s artificial intelligence. When she wakes up in an new body, following a total system shut-down and reboot, she has no memory of what came before. As Lovelace learns to negotiate the universe and discover who she is, she makes friends with Pepper, an excitable engineer, who’s determined to help her learn and grow.

Together, Pepper and Lovey will discover that no matter how vast space is, two people can fill it together.

The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet introduced readers to the incredible world of Rosemary Harper, a young woman with a restless soul and secrets to keep. When she joined the crew of the Wayfarer, an intergalactic ship, she got more than she bargained for – and learned to live with, and love, her rag-tag collection of crewmates.

A Closed and Common Orbit is the stand-alone sequel to Becky Chambers’ beloved debut novel The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet and is perfect for fans of Firefly, Joss Whedon, Mass Effect and Star Wars.

For the Reading Challenge(s):
None

The Reason

This is the second book in the Wayfarer series; I just reread the first one, The Long Way to A Small, Angry Planet and this is also a reread and a buddy read with my online bookclub. I plan to read the next books as well.

The Quotes

“I love learning. I love history. But there’s history in everything. Every building, everybody you talk to. It’s not limited to libraries and museums. I think people who spend their lives in school forget that sometimes.”

“And seriously, anybody working in a job that doesn’t let you take a nap when you need to should get a new job.”

“Owl had said it was important to know how swearing worked, and it was okay under the right circumstances, but that Jane shouldn’t swear all the time. Jane definitely swore all the time. She didn’t know why, but swearing felt fucking great.”

“Just because someone goes away doesn’t mean you stop loving them.”

The Narrator(s)

Patricia Rodriguez. Same as with the first book, I loved her narration and I was completely immersed!

My Thoughts

This is the second book in the Wayfarer series but they’re only tangentially related; set in the same world with a few of the same characters from the first book, but otherwise, a completely different story. This one follows Lovelace/Lovey as she navigates a new body and a new identity for herself. She becomes Sidra, and she’s living with Pepper, whom we also meet in the previous book.

One of the core themes of this book is about finding out who you are, and almost all the main characters in the book has different stories that cover this same theme. One of the things I love most about Becky Chambers’ books is how she explores diverse peoples with different cultures and beliefs and yet show us that they all have some things in common. I also love it because we have the same issues in real life in trying to figure out who we are.

I’ve read the first and second books in this series and loved them, but I haven’t read the next books and I’m eager to get to them and have my mind blown over again with the interesting insights the author shares with us about humanity. I also love the found family aspect in her books, which is so very present here as well. I highly recommend these books!

My Rating

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐/5 stars.

Have you read this book? Would you read this book? Did you like the book or do you think you would like it?

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