Tag Archives: Romance

The Hyacinth Labyrinth by Jamie Pacton

Review: The Hyacinth Labyrinth by Jamie Pacton

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The Hyacinth Labyrinth
Jamie Pacton
Peachtree Teen
Published June 2, 2026

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About The Hyacinth Labyrinth

A whimsical adventure full of magic, fantastical road trips, and a sapphic slow-burn, friends-to-lovers romance—for fans of Sorcery of Thorns and Emily Wilde’s Encyclopaedia of Faeries.


All magic begins in stories. That’s what Fae princess Hyacinth has always been told. As the unmagical daughter of Queen Mab, Hyacinth has never fit in at her mother’s court. She hopes that if she learns about her father, who disappeared fifteen years ago, she can finally learn more about herself. 

When Hyacinth and her friend Chloe—a human stablehand trapped in Fae—sneak off to a riverside night market, Hyacinth learns that her father was last seen heading to a library at the heart of a treacherous labyrinth. The problem: The labyrinth was built long ago by three goddesses, and no one has ever returned from it. 

Still, Hyacinth has to try. 

With the help of Chloe and a tiny dragon named Coffee, she defies Queen Mab and sets off into the wilds of the Moonshadow Kingdom. Along the way they face bandits, magical creatures, a centuries-old human who hosts an Endless Ball, and Hyacinth and Chloe’s growing feelings for each other. Meanwhile, an ancient power lies in wait at the center of the labyrinth, and it is eager to write the girls’ ending. 

A lush, fairycore, sapphic YA fantasy that returns readers to the Fae world introduced in Jamie Pacton’s bestselling novel, The Absinthe Underground! 

Perfect for readers who love Sapphic Slow-Burn, Friends-to-Lovers, Grumpy/Sunshine, Princess/Lady Knight, Bodyguard Romance, Fae/Human Relationships, Only One Bed, and Stories Are Magic!

My Review

I was already a huge fan of Jamie Pacton going into this book, so it was a sure bet that I’d like it. And I totally did! I loved Hyacinth’s optimism and hopefulness juxtaposed with Chloe’s grim, suspicious outlook. It made perfect sense, considering the differences in their backgrounds.

The romance develops slowly– in a good way– and kept me looking forward to the moment the girls realized their feelings were returned. I loved how Pacton incorporated fun tropes into the narrative without them feeling too heavy-handed. The story had a definite playful vibe to it even though the writing wasn’t silly or goofy. I found that a lot of fun.

It’s been too long since I read The Absinthe Underground, so some of the references to elements from that story may have gone over my head. Nothing made me feel lost or like I was unable to enjoy a scene or moment. I think this could be read independently without reading the other book first.

If you like stories filled with fae mischief and sweet romance, definitely put this one on your reading list!

Content Notes

Recommended for Ages 14 up.

Profanity/Crude Language Content
Strong profanity used infrequently.

Romance/Sexual Content
Kissing. Falling asleep together.

Spiritual Content
Some characters can use magic. Fae and other mythical creatures exist in the story.

Violent Content
Situations of peril. Brief battle violence.

Drug Content
Chloe must be wary of Fae food, which can enthrall her and make her forget she’s a human from another world. Characters encounter someone who uses enchanted food to manipulate others and harm them.

Note: This post contains affiliate links, which do not cost you anything to use but help support this blog. I received a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.

Review: Dead Girls by Beck Kubrick

Book Review and Content, Contemporary, Graphic Novel or Adaptation, Horror, Mystery/Suspense/Thriller, Young Adult/Teen 12-18, , , , , , ,

Dead Girls
Beck Kubrick
Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers
Published September 22, 2026

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About Dead Girls

The teen daughter of an infamous serial killer must prove she isn’t the one behind recent copycat murders in this “tongue-in-cheek” (Booklist, starred review) graphic novel that’s a campy, feminist send-up of slashers that both celebrates and subverts classic tropes.

In the cozy town of Clossdale, a serial killer rampages! Five girls missing in as many weeks! Bodies turning up on the forest floor! And all fingers point to one vile fiend: Ash Hargreeves.

Except Ash didn’t do it. She may be the daughter of the infamous Clossdale Killer, and these copycat killings aren’t exactly convincing proof of her innocence—and okay, she’s kind of a weirdo who has two friends total, but when the murders strike a little too close to home, Ash decides to take a stand.

With the help of her besties, Ash is going to hunt down the killer, clear her mother’s name, and stop there from being any more dead girls—now and forever. After all, WWJLCD: what would Jamie Lee Curtis do?

My Review

Far from delicate damsels waiting in fear as a brutal murderer closes in, these girls have decided to run toward danger and stop it in its tracks. I love the energy on the page as Ash and company gather their courage and go on the hunt.

Though the graphic novel includes some slasher themes and tropes, I appreciated how the illustrations used the animal costumes to blunt the violence a bit. It adds just enough creepiness to have those blank-eyed costume heads looming in doorways, and yet… they’re literally cute costume pieces. I thought that was pretty genius, honestly.

Slashers aren’t my favorite horror subgenre, but something about this one really drew me in. I think it’s because it both subverts tropes and also embraces them? There’s a kind of playfulness in the writing that I can’t help but like.

Ash’s small friend group is a lot of fun, too. I loved the banter and jokes, as well as their deep commitment to one another and the unexpected bit of romance.

This book offers so much for readers looking for a fun twist on classic fall horror tropes. Definitely check this out if you’re a horror fan craving a bit more feminism in your reading life.

Content Notes

Recommended for Ages 15 up.

Profanity/Crude Language Content
Strong profanity used somewhat frequently.

Romance/Sexual Content
Kissing and dating relationships.

Spiritual Content
None.

Violent Content
Several characters are murdered on the page. References to past murders. Some characters fight off attackers.

Drug Content
None.

Note: This post contains affiliate links, which do not cost you anything to use but help support this blog. I received a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.

Review: Guardians of Dreamdark: Silksinger by Laini Taylor

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Guardians of Dreamdark: Silksinger
Laini Taylor
Amulet Books
Published September 22, 2026

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About Guardians of Dreamdark: Silksinger

From New York Times bestselling author Laini Taylor comes a new edition of her first cult favorite series, Guardians of Dreamdark, about a djinn-protector faerie and her quest to save her world.

Whisper Silksinger—the last of her clan—is on the run. As the guardian of the Azazel, one of the seven djinn who created the world, it’s Whisper’s sacred duty to keep him safe from the bloodthirsty devils hot on their trail.

The stakes couldn’t be higher, for if the Azazel dies before he’s restored to his ancient temple, the very Tapestry of the Universe will unravel, and life as she knows it will be lost.

But devils aren’t the only ones who seek the Azazel. Pursued by a band of mercenaries, Whisper is surprised to find herself drawn to Hirik, a mysterious faerie with a powerful sword and a secret agenda of his own. Behind them follows Magpie Windwitch, desperate to reach Whisper before the devils do.

With danger closing in from all sides, Whisper will have to learn who to trust . . . before it’s too late.

My Review

For some reason, I thought this series was a duology, but the story clearly doesn’t end here. The first and second books in the series were reprinted by Amulet, but it doesn’t look like a third story was ever published.

The second book does feel like a complete story. It has its own resolution, but it raises bigger questions about who has been freeing the Devils and seeking to destroy the Djinn, and leaves Magpie regrouping in order to face this new foe.

I really enjoyed the whimsical faerie world in this book. It feels very reminiscent of the Don Bluth cartoons that I grew up watching, and I loved that. I found it really nostalgic.

The story has great characters, even though it doesn’t go very deeply into them. The narrative skips around a bit, giving readers a taste of what this character is thinking before winding away to another character’s perspective. In this kind of story, I think that worked. I didn’t expect long internal monologues about each character. The characters had well-developed voices, which helped fill them out. Keeping a bit of mystery also added to the sense of capriciousness that the faeries all had.

As a fan of Taylor’s other books, I felt like I saw shadows of the stories to come in this series, which also made reading Silksinger a lot of fun.

Fans of the author and fans of books about capricious faeries will definitely want to check out this series. Start with Windwitch before reading this second book in the series.

Content Notes

Recommended for Ages 14 up.

Profanity/Crude Language Content
None.

Romance/Sexual Content
Vague references to attraction between faeries.

Spiritual Content
Faeries have magical abilities. Djinn are powerful beings who once ruled the land. Devils are monstrous creatures who try to harm faeries who would wake the Djinn and restore their power.

Violent Content
Situations of peril. Brief battle violence. Bullying and manipulation.

Drug Content
None.

Note: This post contains affiliate links, which do not cost you anything to use but help support this blog. I received a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.

Review: Cursed Princess Club, Vol. 2 by LambCat

Book Review and Content, Fantasy, Graphic Novel or Adaptation, Young Adult/Teen 12-18, , , , , , , , ,

Cursed Princess Club, Vol. 2: A WEBTOON Unscrolled Graphic Novel
LambCat
WEBTOON Unscrolled
Published July 4, 2023

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About Cursed Princess Club, Vol. 2

Just because you’re cursed doesn’t mean you’re not special.

Gwendolyn, the youngest of the King’s three daughters, is living proof that princesses don’t always have it all. She isn’t like a typical fairy-tale princess, or other princesses in the Pastel Kingdom. Gwendolyn, with her big heart and love of baking, isn’t particularly attractive. Unlike her sisters who have woodland creatures do their hair and makeup, or have flowers blossom wherever they sleep, Gwendolyn is a bit…different. So when her father proposes marriage for her and her sisters to make an alliance with the Plaid Kingdom, it breaks Gwendolyn’s heart to hear that Prince Frederick thinks she’s “really ugly.” Overwhelmed and ashamed, she runs away into the forest and encounters the twisted world of the Cursed Princess Club, where her life will never be the same.

The Cursed Princess Club are a ragtag band of outcasts, misfits and cursed princesses who have created an incredible friendship circle. It is among these friends where Gwendolyn learns to embrace her uniqueness and find her people.

In this second book of the series, we learn low self esteem isn’t just for girls! Meet the Princels―princes who have shunned society not because of curses (although one has to wonder…) but because of their own insecurities about their physical appearance and their inability to find romantic partners. And then we have Prince Frederick, who starts to worry if he even deserves Gwen. Plus, you too can learn to be as pretty as a Cursed Princess!

[Episodes 30-61]

My Review

In this second volume, the arc of romance that will slowly build between Gwen and Frederick starts to become clear. It’s a very slow burn, but the author creates lots of adorable moments along the way.

While the story mostly stays PG, there are some themes that older readers will pick up on really quickly. At one point, Blaine asks Maria if she wants to try something privately with him. She clearly thinks he is asking if she wants to have sex with him. When it turns out he’s asking if she’ll answer a detailed survey about her hopes and dreams, she is a bit disappointed. Later, the boys order a keg for a party. One prince starts doing a keg stand, but the king interrupts and ends the party immediately.

Like the first volume, this one is filled with hilarious miscommunications and hyperbolic facial expressions that make it easy to enjoy. We learn more about some of the Cursed Princess Club members and meet a couple of new characters, including a prince who seems intent on wooing Gwen, which surprises Frederick by awakening his jealousy.

Make sure you have the third book handy when you finish this one. I think I jumped right from the last page of this volume to the first page of the next.

Content Notes

Recommended for Ages 13 up.

Profanity/Crude Language Content
None.

Romance/Sexual Content
Vague references to sex.

Spiritual Content
References to magic and curses. Some characters transform (unwillingly) or have strange abilities.

Violent Content
Reference to war. The Plaid King exhibits some toxic masculinity in how he treats his sons. He threatens one son by spearing a bagel with a knife and implying he’ll do the same to his son.

Drug Content
One prince does a keg stand at a party. Someone offers a princess alcohol, which she refuses because she’s underage.

Note: This post contains affiliate links, which do not cost you anything to use but help support this blog. I borrowed a copy of this book from my local library. All opinions are my own.

Review: The Siren’s Kiss by Leslie Vedder

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The Siren’s Kiss
Leslie Vedder
Abrams/Amulet
Published November 10, 2026

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About The Siren’s Kiss

Pirates of the Caribbean meets The Little Mermaid in this swashbuckling Sapphic fantasy!

Three years ago, Dead Shot Rayleigh laid hands on the legendary ruby the Siren’s Kiss andsuffered the wrath of the sea god, Red-Handed Roger.

Now bound as captain of his cursed ship, The Revenant, eighteen-year-old Rayleigh hatches a plan to win her freedom. Everyone knows that Red-Handed Roger’s heart was stolen by the Sea Witch. If she can get it back, she can barter her release.

But Rayleigh isn’t the only one with a score to settle. Fiery mermaid Maren lost her brother to the Sea Witch, and she’s come to the surface to get him back and save the last remaining mermaids at all costs.

When Maren runs afoul of the infuriating cursed pirate Rayleigh, sparks fly, and all her plans go up in flames. Now the only chance they have is each other.

Swashbuckling, sea monsters, pirate kings, siren songs, and stolen hearts!

Red-Handed Roger and the Sea Witch were once friends, before they both fell for the same mermaid and almost destroyed the world. Will Rayleigh and Maren’s love set things right, or just finish what the old gods started?​​​

Some hearts are meant to be stolen…

My Review

I’m just going to say it. I don’t think Leslie Vedder gets the recognition she deserves for her reimagined fairy-tale mashups. Her debut, The Bone Spindle, was my favorite book of the year when it was published, and the whole series is excellent. I feel the same about this book.

I love the way that she blended Pirates of the Caribbean and The Little Mermaid. The beats from the original stories are completely reimagined here, and yet they still made me think of key moments from the originals. I love it. I love the way that Vedder developed the story surrounding the rivalry between the god of the sea and the sea witch. The mermaids and their interaction with the human world was really nicely thought out.

Rayleigh as a pirate on a cursed ship, with all her backstory about her mother and her connection to the pirate community, was also really fascinating. I felt like there was so much going on in the book. So many interesting threads I wanted to follow, and it was so rewarding to find out every bit of backstory that the author included in the novel.

I read this book during a particularly hard week, and having the next chapter to look forward to at night really gave me a boost. I absolutely recommend this book for readers who enjoy books by Stephanie Garber or anyone who likes reimagined fairy tales. This is one I’m absolutely going to reread, and it’ll be on my top reads for this year without a doubt.

Content Notes

Recommended for Ages 14 up.

Profanity/Crude Language Content
Profanity used infrequently.

Romance/Sexual Content
Kissing.

Spiritual Content
The story contains lore about a god and goddess who fell in love with the same goddess and what happened when she chose one lover over the other. Rayleigh is cursed and bound to a cursed ship.

Violent Content
Situations of peril. Battle scenes involving swords and guns.

Drug Content
None.

Note: This post contains affiliate links, which do not cost you anything to use but help support this blog. I received a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.

Review: Rainbow Boys by Alex Sanchez

Book Review and Content, Contemporary, Romance, Young Adult/Teen 12-18, , , , , , , , , , ,

Rainbow Boys
Alex Sanchez
Simon & Schuster BFYR
Published September 29, 2026 (Orig. 2001)

Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads

About Rainbow Boys

Navigating through an intolerant world and their own insecurities, three teenage boys find each other and the confidence to come out of the closet.

Three teenage boys, coming of age and out of the closet. Jason Carrillo is a jock with a steady girlfriend, but he can’t stop dreaming about sex…with other guys. Kyle Meeks doesn’t look gay, but he is. And he hopes he never has to tell anyone—especially his parents. Nelson Glassman is “out” to the entire world, but he can’t tell the boy he loves that he wants to be more than just friends…

In a revealing debut novel that percolates with passion and wit, Alex Sanchez follows these very different high-school seniors as their struggles with sexuality and intolerance draw them into a triangle of love, betrayal, and ultimately, friendship.

My Review

This 25th anniversary edition of Rainbow Boys opens with a foreword from Maia Kobabe, who offers some context for why books like this one are so important. Not only do these books let readers see themselves as the central characters, but the stories also celebrate who they are while acknowledging challenges many LGBTQIA+ teens face. The book also includes a note from the author that tells why he wrote the book and its journey to publication.

The writing in Rainbow Boys is straightforward and easy to follow. The story alternates between Nelson, Kyle, and Jason’s perspectives, giving readers glimpses into each boy’s experience. Nelson, out and proud, faces different challenges than Jason, who is still learning to accept who he is. Kyle’s parents’ response to his coming out is very different than Jason’s parents’ reaction. I love that the book shows these different experiences side by side, highlighting a spectrum of stories that many readers will identify with.

Though Nelson begins the story out and proud, he still shows growth in how he thinks of relationships and his self-confidence. Jason and Kyle also experience some character growth throughout the story.

All in all, I can see why this book deserves to be revisited and published for a new generation. Rainbow Boys is the first book in a trilogy following Nelson, Jason, and Kyle through the summer after graduation. I’m not sure whether there are plans to release new editions of all three or just this first book.

Content Notes

Recommended for Ages 15 up.

Profanity/Crude Language Content
Strong profanity used somewhat frequently.

Romance/Sexual Content
Kissing. Some brief, scant descriptions of sexual encounters. References to sex. References to HIV and safe sex.

Spiritual Content
None.

Violent Content
One character remembers his dad beating him up after catching him with another boy. Some scenes show bullying by other students, including a fight between multiple boys. One character’s dad gets violent after having too much to drink.

Drug Content
Characters attend a party where teens drink alcohol. One character’s dad is an alcoholic and appears drunk in multiple scenes.

Note: This post contains affiliate links, which do not cost you anything to use but help support this blog. I received a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.