Cyn's Workshop

Today I’m reviewing An Education in Malice by S. T. Gibson, and this book was absolutely intoxicating. 🩸🥀 Give me sapphic vampires, dark academia, obsession, and a Carmilla-inspired story, and apparently I am very easy to please.

Set within the insular world of academia, An Education in Malice delivers a sensual, gothic atmosphere alongside its complicated relationships and vampiric elements. But what completely sold me was Gibson’s writing. “Sensual” really is the perfect word for it—the prose gets under your skin and makes the entire reading experience feel lush, intimate, and a little dangerous.

And I absolutely devoured it. This was one of those books I finished so quickly that afterward I needed time to actually process everything I'd just read before I could form coherent thoughts about it. 😂

🎧 Tune in for my spoiler-free review as I dive into the sapphic romance, vampires, Carmilla inspiration, dark academia atmosphere, characters, and S. T. Gibson’s deliciously intoxicating prose—and why this became such an incredible read for me.

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Today I’m reviewing The Lure of Wolves and Whispers, and this fantasy completely surprised me! 🐺🖤 What initially feels like a familiar deadly-competition story quickly becomes something much bigger, with rebellion, dangerous trials, political intrigue, family, betrayal, and plenty of romantic tension.

At the center of the story is Maeve, who enters the competition not because she dreams of winning a prince, but because of a deal with the Whisperers. Her real mission? Survive the trials and get close enough to kill the king. Except surviving is much easier said than done.

I really enjoyed watching Maeve grow throughout the story, especially as her relationships with Wolf and Talon developed. The chemistry and tension with Wolf worked for me, while Maeve and Talon’s bond brought another emotional layer to the story. And then there were some developments I genuinely did not see coming. 😭

The story also plays with expectations surrounding who the real villain is. You might have your suspicions, but discovering the full extent of what’s actually happening added so much to the payoff and left me incredibly curious about where the sequel will go.

🎧 Tune in for my spoiler-free review as I talk about the deadly competition, Maeve’s character development, romance, rebellion, twists, villains, and why The Lure of Wolves and Whispers left me ready for book two.

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Today I’m reviewing Blood Over Bright Haven by M. L. Wang, and I genuinely have no notes. This book was incredible. It gave me everything I want from fantasy: compelling characters, fascinating worldbuilding, a unique magic system, and themes that gave me so much to think about long after I finished reading.

One of my favorite aspects is the way science, physics, mathematics, and magic work together. Magic essentially feels like coding—you have calculations, written spells, and a system with actual structure behind it. But that incredible worldbuilding is only the beginning.

M. L. Wang uses this story to dig into classism, colonialism, sexism, religion, institutional power, and who gets access to knowledge. There are so many layers to unpack that our Fantasy Fanatics book club actually went overtime because we couldn't stop discussing it.

And then there’s that ending. 💔 It’s powerful, bittersweet, and exactly the kind of conclusion that sticks with me. Watching the story bring its larger themes together while challenging the systems its characters have been fighting against made the payoff incredibly satisfying.

🎧 Tune in for my spoiler-free review as I dive into the magic system, characters, worldbuilding, social commentary, philosophical and religious themes, and why Blood Over Bright Haven absolutely blew me away.

Perfection. No notes. Go read it. 📚✨

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Today I’m reviewing A Feather So Black by Lyra Selene, and this was one of those fantasy books that completely consumed me. I was physically reading it whenever I could—and switching to the audiobook whenever life forced me to put the book down. 🖤🦢

Blending fae mythology with Swan Maiden folklore and shades of The Swan Princess and The Twelve Dancing Princesses, the story follows Fia as she ventures into the dangerous realm of Tír na nÓg in search of a missing princess. But what really made this book work for me was Fia herself. Her journey isn't simply about romance or rescuing someone else; it's about learning to love and choose herself before she can truly open herself up to loving someone else.

And then there are the relationships. 👀 Between a deliciously brooding fae prince, complicated feelings, jealousy, longing, and characters I absolutely loved to hate, I was INVESTED. Add gorgeous prose, an immersive story that unfolds over months, and an ending that immediately made me want the next book, and this became one of my standout reads.

🎧 Tune in for my spoiler-free review as I talk about Fia's character growth, the romance, Celtic-inspired mythology, fae worldbuilding, gorgeous writing, and why I couldn't stop reading—or listening to—A Feather So Black.

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Today I’m reviewing Missing Girls and Lost Boys by H. Elliott, a dark reimagining of Peter Pan that takes the familiar story of missing children and transforms it into something much more sinister. 🔪🖤

This one plays with the mythology of Peter Pan, Wendy, the Lost Boys, and Neverland through a darker lens, blending fantasy with mystery and horror elements. Instead of the whimsical Neverland we grew up with, we get a story built around disappearances, murder, trauma, and the question of what really happened to all those missing girls and lost boys.

What really caught my attention was the concept and the way the novel twists pieces of the original Peter Pan story into something recognizable but decidedly more disturbing. There’s a lot happening here, and I definitely had thoughts about the characters, pacing, relationships, and how successfully all those ideas came together.

🎧 Tune in for my spoiler-free review as I dive into the darker Peter Pan inspiration, the mystery at the heart of the story, its characters and relationships, and whether Missing Girls and Lost Boys ultimately delivered on its fascinating premise.

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August did not go according to my TBR plans. 😅 I went into the month with another wildly ambitious reading goal and finished 10 books—but surprisingly, it wasn’t because I was reading bad books. Between reader fatigue, everyday life, and getting completely sucked back into writing my own books, reading time kept turning into writing time.

And despite reading less, August gave me some fantastic books. I had mixed feelings about Umbra, especially its nonlinear storytelling and characterization, while A Theory of Dreaming gave me more of Effie and Preston and an emotional exploration of depression, devotion, and erasure. A Whiff of Murder finally gave me the cozy mystery I’d been craving, while Brigands & Breadknives was enjoyable but much slower for me than the previous books in the series.

Then there were the books I couldn’t put down. A Feather So Black completely swept me away with its gorgeous prose, fae mythology, Swan Princess and Twelve Dancing Princesses vibes, and Thea’s powerful journey toward loving herself. Blood Over Bright Haven was basically perfection—melding science, physics, and magic with thoughtful explorations of colonialism, classism, religion, philosophy, and sexism.

I also had some fun with the KPop Demon Hunters junior novelization, got pulled into the deadly competition and romantic tension of The Lure of Wolves, and ended August completely obsessed with An Education in Malice, a sensual, sapphic vampire story inspired by Carmilla. 🩸🖤

🎧 Tune in for my August Reading Wrap-Up as I talk about all 10 books, the hits and misses, why I’ve been reading more slowly lately, and which books absolutely stole the month.

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Today I’m reviewing Umbra by Catalina Matei, a dark fantasy romance and the first book in the Echoes of Fate series. 🌑✨

Released August 27, 2026, Umbra kicks off a brand-new fantasy series blending dark fantasy and romance as Matei begins building the world, characters, and larger story that will carry through Echoes of Fate.

🎧 Tune in for my spoiler-free review as I share my thoughts on the characters, romance, worldbuilding, pacing, and darker fantasy elements, including what worked for me, what didn’t, and whether this debut installment left me eager to continue the series.

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Today I’m reviewing It’s About Time by Carol J. Perry, the first book in the Wicked Salem Mystery series and a spin-off of her popular Witch City Mysteries. 🔮⏰

Published June 30, 2026, this new series brings us back to Salem for another dose of cozy mystery goodness, blending murder, mystery, and Perry’s signature witchy New England atmosphere. As the start of a brand-new series, it’s also an opportunity to jump into another corner of the Witch City world.

🎧 Tune in for my spoiler-free review as I share my thoughts on the mystery, characters, pacing, Salem setting, paranormal elements, and how It’s About Time works as the beginning of the Wicked Salem Mystery series.

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Today I’m reviewing When Flowers Wilt by G.E. Masters, the first book in the Deal with the Devil duet—a sapphic paranormal romance that brings supernatural intrigue and romance together in one seductive story.

As the beginning of a duet, When Flowers Wilt sets the stage for a larger story while developing its central sapphic romance and paranormal elements. And with a title like Deal with the Devil, you know things aren't going to stay simple for long. 😈🌹

🎧 Tune in for my spoiler-free review as I dive into the characters, romance, supernatural elements, pacing, and overall story, including what worked for me and what left me wanting more.

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Today I’m reviewing Shadow Reaper, a dark fantasy adventure packed with dangerous magic, secrets, and a world where survival comes with a price.

🎧 Tune in for my spoiler-free thoughts as I break down the characters, worldbuilding, pacing, and fantasy elements, along with what worked for me, what didn’t quite land, and whether Shadow Reaper deserves a spot on your TBR.

Follow on Spotify for more fantasy, romantasy, sci-fi, monthly reading wrap-ups, and spoiler-free book reviews from Cyn’s Workshop!

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