Cyn's Workshop

Mexican mythology meets The Hunger Games in a deadly competition between demigods? Oh, you KNOW I had to read this! ☀️🔥

Today I'm reviewing The Sunbearer Trials by Aiden Thomas, a vibrant YA fantasy packed with Mexican mythology, dangerous trials, powerful gods, LGBTQ+ representation, and unforgettable characters.

As someone who is Mexican, I absolutely loved seeing my culture and mythology brought to life in such a colorful, imaginative world! Between the incredible worldbuilding, Teo's emotional journey, and the thought-provoking themes of identity, inequality, and breaking cycles of violence, this book completely won me over.

And that ending? Let's just say I'm VERY eager to pick up Celestial Monsters! 👀

🎧 Does The Sunbearer Trials live up to its Hunger Games comparisons? Tune in for my spoiler-free review to discover why this mythology-inspired fantasy deserves a spot on your TBR!

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A crumbling family legacy, sinister secrets, and mermaids that are anything BUT friendly? Oh, this is my kind of gothic fantasy! 🖤🌊

Today I'm reviewing All the Murmuring Bones by A. G. Slatter, a haunting gothic fairy tale filled with dark family secrets, dangerous merfolk, ancient bargains, and atmospheric magic.

I absolutely LOVED this book! From its beautifully eerie prose to its clever, underestimated heroine, Miren, I was completely captivated. The pacing, tension, and gothic atmosphere were phenomenal—even if the mermaids weren't quite as prominent as I initially expected.

And can we talk about Slatter's writing? Consider me officially obsessed. This book confirmed that A. G. Slatter deserves a permanent place on my auto-buy author list!

🎧 What makes this dark fairy tale so unforgettable? Tune in for my spoiler-free review to discover why All the Murmuring Bones completely swept me away!

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I absolutely LOVED The Knight and the Moth by Rachel Gillig, but its sequel, The Knave and the Moon? Well, we need to talk. 🌙🖤

Returning to the Stonewater Kingdom should have been magical, but this gothic fantasy romance left me with some seriously mixed feelings.

While I loved revisiting the characters, especially Bartholomew (the true star of the series!), I struggled with the pacing, repetitive plot, and lack of deeper mythology. Thankfully, the phenomenal audiobook production and some much-needed character development kept me invested.

But was that enough to make this a satisfying conclusion to the duology?

⭐ My Rating: 3/5 Stars

🎧 Tune in for my spoiler-free review as I discuss the romance, character development, worldbuilding, audiobook narration, and why this highly anticipated sequel didn't quite live up to its predecessor.

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What if American Idol met The Hunger Games—and losing meant dying? 🎤💀

Today I'm reviewing Survival Show by Juno Dawson, a gripping YA dystopian thriller that combines deadly competition, reality television, political commentary, and a fight for survival.

I enjoyed this book way more than I expected! Between its frighteningly believable dystopian world, incredible pacing, and shocking twists, I was completely hooked. But while the worldbuilding was phenomenal, I did have some issues with the romance and character development.

And can we talk about the audiobook production? The singing, music, and immersive announcements made this one of the most entertaining audiobook experiences I've had!

⭐ My Rating: 4–4.5/5 Stars

🎧 Does Survival Show live up to its Hunger Games comparisons? And is the audiobook really that good? Tune in for my spoiler-free review to find out!

✨ Thank you to the publisher for providing me with an advance review copy!

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A help desk in Hell, a swoon-worthy demon prince, and a romantasy that somehow earned FIVE STARS from me? Yes, you read that right! 😈❤️

Today I'm reviewing For Whom the Belle Tolls by Jaysea Lynn, and I absolutely LOVED this book! I'm usually more interested in fantasy plots than romance, but this one completely won me over.

Between its hilarious characters, creative take on the afterlife, emotional romance, and surprisingly powerful exploration of religious trauma, this story had me laughing, swooning, and thinking long after I finished reading.

And the spicy scenes? For once, they didn't make me cringe! 😂

⭐ My Rating: 5/5 Stars

🎧 What makes this paranormal romantasy so special? Tune in for my spoiler-free review to find out why it's easily one of my favorite reads of the year!

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Vampires, hidden magic, a fierce warrior princess, and a romance that left me with some serious thoughts? Oh, we need to talk! 🩸✨

Today I'm reviewing Magic Bites from the Tales of the Shadow Folk, a fast-paced fantasy filled with dangerous secrets, royal intrigue, unexpected twists, and supernatural romance.

I devoured this book in just four hours! The pacing kept me hooked, the friendships were refreshing, and the story had plenty of surprises. But while I loved certain aspects, the romance and character development left me questioning everything by the end.

🎧 Was this vampire fantasy worth the hype, or did the ending bite off more than it could chew? Tune in for my spoiler-free review to find out!

✨ Thank you to Riddle the Stars for providing me with a digital review copy!

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What happens when a scatterbrained witch accidentally summons a ridiculously attractive demon? Apparently, you get a quirky, magical romance that's perfect for fall! 🍂🔮

Today I'm reviewing The Witch Fix by Kennedy Rhodes, a fun, witchy paranormal romance filled with magical mishaps, a charming demon love interest, and a little supernatural chaos.

Meet Ava, a witch who runs a coffee shop, struggles to discover her magical specialty, and has a habit of forgetting just about everything. When a mysterious spellbook leads her to summon Soren, a surprisingly charming demon, things take an unexpected turn.

And while I had a genuinely good time with this book—it even helped pull me out of a reading slump—I definitely had some issues with Ava's characterization. Her forgetfulness felt exaggerated at the beginning, only to practically disappear as the story progressed. I also struggled to connect with her initial relationship.

But Ava and Soren? Now that's a different story! Their dynamic was cute, funny, and surprisingly wholesome. I also enjoyed the magical worldbuilding, particularly the ley lines, generational magic, and how the larger plot developed.

Was it a perfect read? Not quite. But was it entertaining, quick, and full of witchy autumn vibes? Absolutely!

🎧 Tune in for my spoiler-free review as I discuss the romance, character development, magical worldbuilding, pacing, and why The Witch Fix is a fun recommendation for readers who love cozy, witchy paranormal romances.

✨ ARC Disclosure: Thank you to Ride on the Stars for providing me with an advance review copy!

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September was another slower reading month, but you know what? I'm perfectly okay with that! 📚✨

Between writing my next book, working through another round of manuscript edits, and juggling everyday life, I finished 10 books this September. And while I didn't read as much as I originally hoped, I discovered some incredible stories along the way!

This month was packed with fantasy, romantasy, dystopian fiction, gothic horror, witchy romance, and magical adventures—and there were definitely some surprises!

🔥 The biggest highlights? For Whom the Belle Tolls completely blew me away with its humor, emotional depth, and surprisingly wonderful romance. Five stars! Meanwhile, Season of Storms reminded me why I fell in love with The Witcher universe in the first place.

I also loved Survival Show, a dystopian singing competition with major Hunger Games vibes and an incredible audiobook production. The Dragon Wakes with Thunder delivered fantastic character growth and a bittersweet romantic journey, while All the Murmuring Bones captivated me with its haunting gothic atmosphere and dangerous mermaid mythology.

And can we talk about The Sunbearer Trials? Mexican mythology, queer representation, deadly competition, and an ending that left me desperate for the sequel? YES, PLEASE! 🌞

Of course, not everything was a five-star read. Missing Girls and Lost Boys had compelling dystopian elements but an underdeveloped romance, The Knave and the Moon didn't quite live up to my expectations, and The Witch Fix was a fun, quick read with some frustrating characterization.

🎧 Tune in for my September Reading Wrap-Up as I discuss all 10 books, share my ratings and spoiler-free thoughts, celebrate my favorite reads, and talk about why sometimes reading less is perfectly fine—especially when you're busy writing your own stories!

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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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