Bookseller & Reviewer

Rating: 3/5

Book Blurb:

"[Lemon] is a poet with knives for teeth." —Roshani Chokshi

"Reads like a grimoire for overcoming." —Hannah Whitten

"A gorgeously gothic fairy tale." —Ava Reid

Inspired by the tale of Bluebeard, A Dark and Wild Wood is the lush and atmospheric story of a maiden with dark magic who becomes the apprentice to Lord Death—for a price.

Ever since she was a child, Salomé has been plagued by visions of spirits and dangerous powers she can’t control. After watching her foster mother burn as a witch, she and her beloved sister Rochelle are raised together in a convent, a grim and dreary existence. Until one day, Rochelle vanishes.

Determined to find a way to save her, Salomé runs: first to a brothel, and then, after a terrible accident, away from the village and into the woods. Deep amongst the trees of the wild Black Forest, she comes face-to-face with Lord Death.

Rather than taking her life, he brings her to his home at the heart of the woods, a strange manor full of locked rooms and mysterious corridors, crumbling one moment, magnificent the next. He promises to make her his apprentice and teach her how to harness her mind and magic. His words are as seductive as his presence—but should one trust Death?

A swirling mirage of gothic fairy tale and historical fantasy, A Dark and Wild Wood is a novel best devoured all at once. But proceed with caution, as everything is not what it seems...

Review:

A gothic Bluebeard retelling featuring a maiden with dark magic who finds herself the new apprentice to Lord Death... only things are not as they seem and if she wants to embrace her own power she'll have to seize it herself. This is NOT a romance, there is light romance aspects but this is a true gothic story. The story follows Salomé, a girl with magic who finds herself on the run and face to face with Lord Death. When he takes her under his wing she finds herself questioning whether or not she can surrender... and if she can trust him. Trapped between her love for a pure girl who stole her heart and the need to want to be equal in power as Lord Death's consort... Salomé finds herself torn in two as she navigates who she can trust. I definitely found this to be a unique retelling of Bluebeard and I do appreciate the author stressing that this is NOT a romance book. I found the story to be interesting and the final plot twist was fun.

Release Date: May 26, 2026

Publication/Blog: Ash and Books (ash-and-books.tumblr.com)

Rating: 3/5

Book Blurb:

This deluxe limited edition paperback features stenciled edges and jacket effects.

From the bestselling author of He Sees You When You’re Sleeping comes a dark romance about a murder-sober retired serial killer and his murder-curious protégé. Perfect for fans of Brynne Weaver, this twisted romance inspired by the Bluebeard folktale is filled with dark humor, sizzling chemistry, and spice.

Murder is their love language…

Five years ago, Saylor Mitchell’s father was brutally murdered in front of her, shattering her world. Now his killers have tracked her down to finish the job. She is unexpectedly saved by her father’s closest friend, the enigmatic Blue. Saylor's savior—and captor— is a reformed, murder-sober assassin struggling to escape the clutches of his own violent history.

Blue’s gothic mansion, perched on the edge of a cliff overlooking a stormy sea in the town of Grimlock, is a labyrinth of secrets. And so is Grimlock, a small town whose residents all seem to have a penchant for murder that they’ve managed—mostly— to overcome.

Saylor soon realizes that Blue holds the key to avenging her father’s murder at the hands of the Crow, a gang of amoral contract killers. Only problem? Saylor has never killed before. Good thing those who can’t kill…teach.

Blue finds Saylor an apt pupil and the attraction between them morphs into a dangerous obsession. Can their love conquer Blue’s final, darkest secret?

Tropes:

Morally grey leads

Touch her and die

Dad’s best friend

Possessiveness

Gothic mansion

Murder mystery

Forbidden love

Age gap

Forced proximity

Anti-hero

Dark romance

Gothic romance

Fairytale retelling

Review:

She's a pole dancer on the run from assassins with a thirst for vengeance on the people who murdered her father, he's her father's best friend who vowed to protect her but finds himself falling for her while helping her kill off the people on her list. Age gap, morally grey, murder mystery in this modern day retelling of Blue Beard. Saylor and Blue meet and immediately hit it off... but when they both find out who they really are and how they're connected, things get complicated. Saylor wants Blue to teach her to kill people so she can murder the people who killed her father, Blue just wants to protect her and keep her locked up in his house... and the cherry on top is that they can't resist each other. This was definitely a unique retelling of Blue Beard and I do feel like it could have leaned into the darker romance aspect but it was fine for me overall.

Release Date: June 30,2026

Publication/Blog: Ash and Books (ash-and-books.tumblr.com)

Rating: 5/5

Book Blurb:

A Formula 1 romance set in the Slipstream universe following Cat Cromwell, a fashion influencer on a secret mission to ruin a driver’s reputation, but she may fall for his rival instead.

"This is the steamy rom-com every F1 girlie has been waiting for." —Sarah Adams • "Deliciously addictive!" —Ellie K. Wilde • "The Paddock Club is one of my top reads of the year." —Tarah DeWitt • "Madge Maril is a delightful voice in romance!” —Chelsea Curto • "Cat and Faust are a masterpiece in on-page chemistry." —Peyton Corinne

As a professional heartbreaker, Cat Cromwell knows she’ll never fall in love—but she’ll pretend to, for a price. A former fashion model in New York City with a side hustle charming and then dumping the World’s Worst Men, Cat is offered the chance to pull off her biggest con yet: date and dump F1 driver Bernard Baudelaire…who recently left his very angry ex at the altar.

Raised on Formula 1 by a single father herself, Cat is excited to infiltrate the ivory tower that is the Paddock Club through fashion, and also to get back at another powerful, spoiled man who feels entitled to treat women like playthings, something she has undertaken for women and girls since her early modeling days and her family’s financial struggles. But Cat’s perfect plan hits the brakes when Bernard leaves the racing team—and she’s assigned to work with Faust Ferreira Sanchez instead, a moody F1 driver recovering after an apocalyptically embarrassing year in his career.

Faust is nothing like the men Cat is paid to date and loves to hate. He’s quiet. Honest. And absurdly hot in an all-black suit. Worse, Faust is convinced that Cat isn’t who she claims to be. And he’s particularly interested in why she's flirting with his ex-teammate and biggest racing rival.

As flying between fashion shows and racing circuits wears Cat’s carefully crafted mask thin, she finds herself drawn further into Faust’s steamy game of cat and mouse, and the dangerously real passion they ignite in each other. But with shadows from Cat’s checkered past looming in the pit lane, can she find a way to break her target’s heart without losing the first honest man she’s ever known? Or will staying in the Paddock Club be the first scam she can’t pull off?

Review:

She's a con artist who breaks men's hearts for a living and he's the stoic Formula 1 driver... who she had a childhood crush on but is now the one person who can throw her latest con out the door... yet he's keeping her secret... and trying to win her heart. Cat doesn't do relationships, she doesn't believe in love, after a lifetime of seeing men prove time and time again how bad they are... she's made a living now avenging women and breaking men's hearts for them. When her latest job has her pretending to be a designer (her former dream) for an F1 driver... she then runs into the on person she actually has some feelings for, her childhood Formula 1 crush, Faust. The only problem? Faust saw her before... and he knows her secret... and he just happens to be willing to keep her secret. Faust turns everything Cat believes upside down, he's everything she's scared of... because he just might be the one person who can truly see her beneath all the facades and can climb the walls of her heart. Oh my swoonnnnn, this was absolutely adorable. Faust stole my heart, talk about a MAN. I love a man who supports you through everything, who is patient, who is sweet, who knows YOU. He literally is so good. I love Madge's book and this second one was just so swoony and romantic.

Release Date: July 14, 2026

Publication/Blog: Ash and Books (ash-and-books.tumblr.com)

Rating: 5/5

Book Blurb:

In the dusty heart of Rootstown Creek, Lila Shaw returned home to settle the ranch she never wanted and finally put the past behind her.

Fourteen years earlier, she had sworn she would never come back. Then her father died and left her the one thing she never wanted: the family ranch and all the painful memories that came with it.

She never expected Ryder Kane to still be there.

Once, he'd been the quiet boy who always appeared when she needed him most. Now, he was a scarred, brooding cowboy with rough hands, haunted eyes, and a devotion so fierce that time had never managed to weaken it.

For years, Ryder had protected the ranch, repaired what was broken, and watched over the life Lila had left behind. While she’d been running from the past, he’d been preserving it for her.

But some secrets refused to stay buried, and the truth about the darkest chapter of Lila's childhood threatened to destroy the fragile future they were building together.

Because the man who had always protected her had been keeping one devastating secret of his own.

And Lila had to decide whether she could trust the cowboy who had loved her enough to sacrifice everything for her.

Review:

A cowboy romance that heals the heart. After escaping her home and family, Lila finds herself returning to the place that broke her... only to reunite with the one man who was her safe space all along. Ryder had protected the ranch, protected her, for years... and now that Lila is back she finds herself drawn in by the cowboy who saved her... but can he make her stay or are some places too hard to come back to? I loved this one so much and the relaitionship between Lila and Ryder was so beautifully done.

Release Date: August 1, 2026

Rating: 3/5

Book Blurb:

Bollywood body horror collides with erotic obsession as a die-hard fan resolves to replace her retiring screen idol, blurring fantasy and flesh in a dark, intoxicating debut.

Priyanka is a Bollywood uber-fan who has been obsessed with film star Ayesha Sen since she was a kid — she's watched her movies over and over, and knows her dances beat for beat. But after a once-in-a-lifetime chance to meet her idol goes awry, and Ayesha announces her impending retirement from movies, Priyanka decides that if Ayesha isn't going to live the life she's supposed to, Priyanka would be more than happy to take over for her...

Aditya Bidikar (The Department of Truth, Blue in Green) and rising star artist Som (Crocodile Black) present a twisted exploration of celebrity culture, identity, and image that's perfect for fans of The Substance, Perfect Blue, Black Swan and David Cronenberg.

Collects #1-4.

Review:

Bollywood body horror mixed in with erotic obsession and parasocial relationships. This was definitely a interesting read and it sucks you in, the ending leaves you a little "huh" but overall the body horror aspect was cool and the obsession was a interesting storyline. I was intrigued by the twist and turns of the story and it makes a really intriguing read.

Release Date: November 24, 2026

Publication/Blog: Ash and Books (ash-and-books.tumblr.com)

Rating: 4/5

Book Blurb:

HE HAS CALLED TO HER ALL HER LIFE, BUT SHE COULD NEVER REPLY. . . The brand new haunting, gothic, sci-fi novella from Meg Smitherman . . . -- Midonia, a freelance interplanetary transporter, is on thin ice after a fatal accident on the job. So she doesn’t argue when she’s given the tedious task of flying devout Sister Irena to a remote fringe planet, where a tiny religious colony worships a strange deity called Anguish. Until now. When a solar flare grounds her ship, Midonia finds herself stuck with the cult-like sisters. Even worse, he comes to her in the night, his familiar voice louder than ever. He invades her mind with his hunger, sparking a ravenous obsession that will be near-impossible to escape.

Review:

A freelance interplanetary transporter finds herself on a mysterious planet... being drawn in by a voice.... a god that awakens something in her that has been laying dormant all her life, a hunger, an obsession... a rage. Part sci-f-, part horror romance, this was a gothic read that has you intrigued from the very start! I love a story that has many twist and turns and Meg never disappoints! I also am obsessed with the female rage aspect of the story and who can resist a alien/dark god romance?? I had a blast reading this one!

Release Date: July 30, 2026

Publication/Blog: Ash and Books (ash-and-books.tumblr.com)

Rating: 1/5

Book Blurb:

A man who’s back from the dead meets a woman who’s from somewhere even worse in Clay McLeod Chapman’s new horrormance about love, possession, and just a little murder.

After a traumatic accident that almost cost Jordan his life, he’s finally starting to feel normal again. Well, maybe not normal. Everything tastes like ash, and when he looks at the people around him, their faces start to melt. At least he’s not dead, right? His friends are doing their best to get him back on his feet, maybe find someone to talk to, perhaps even find someone to take his mind off his last failed relationship.

Then he meets Lilith. The two share an instant connection but after a wild and passionate night together, she ghosts him. Jordan searches the city for Lilith, desperate to see her again. But when a woman claiming to be Lilith shows up, wearing a different face but knowing intimate details about Jordan, he worries he’s losing his grip on reality. As he grows closer to this mysterious woman, he discovers that happily ever afters sometimes come at a cost. How far will Lilith take him, and how much darkness will he embrace to find love?

Devil Inside is a dark, demonic romance for fans of: 

horror romance with an HEA

morally grey characters who are perfect for each other

paranormal and supernatural monster romance

fast-burn relationships

touch HIM and die feminine rage

Review:

A man gets into a bicycle accident and dies for two minutes... only to come back and take a bit of hell with him... and now finds himself dating a literal demon who hops from one body to the next. Let me start off by saying, this book did not work for me on either the romance or horror front. Reading this, especially after the huge discussion in the movie Obsession, just felt kind of gross. I love horror romances, I love a good possession story, what I did not vibe with? This book. The writing is not great, and the character arcs are barely there, you aren't ever really rooting for anyone and the romance felt lackluster at best. This book is one that plays heavily into the "dub consent" when in fact there is little to any consent and if anything the women who are possessed just play it off as it being completely fine... for the most part. The main male lead is just a bummer, let's be so for real, he gave me such an ick and the whole "feminine rage" where?? WHERE ? I WOULD LOVE TO SEE IT. The ending of this book felt like a BAD take on the Supernatural Sam x Ruby romance arc... and honestly I am just happy to have finished reading this book and being done with it.

Release Date: August 11, 2026

Publication/Blog: Ash and Books (ash-and-books.tumblr.com)

Rating: 3/5

Book Blurb:

Necromantasy is the new romantasy in Hopeless Necromantic, a debut romantic fantasy for fans of Gideon the Ninth,The Irresistible Urge to Fall for your Enemy, Long Live Evil or Assistant to the Villain. SHE RAISES HELL. HE RAISES THE DEAD. WHAT COULD POSSIBLY GO WRONG? 

When new recruit Helspira takes on the doomed mission that no other soldier wants, life—and death—start to get a little complicated. Helspira must play escort to Sikras—a frustratingly handsome necromancer with the power to raise the dead—as he attempts a mission that he's failed twice before; stopping an undead army at the edges of the kingdom. 

No one thinks he will succeed. Not even Sikras. But the more time the two spend together, the more they find they can imagine a brighter future. As secrets come out and the two grow closer—and Sikras's lively skeleton companion Benjamin tries desperately not to be a third wheel—will Sikras' and Helspira's changing feelings for each other be enough to overcome the growing danger?

RAISE A GLASS. RAISE THE DEAD. JUST DON'T RAISE YOUR HOPES.

Review:

A cozy romantasy featuring a Necromancer who is tired of everything being forced to go on another mission and the determined recruit who wants to stop an undead army from taking over the kingdom. Sikras is a disgraced necromancer who used to work for the queen, but after the death of his wife, who was also killed by his best friend... he's had enough and wants to isolate himself. Yet when Helspira, a demon recruit appears before him and drags him back to go on a new mission for the queen... he has no choice. Sikras finds himself opening up himself to Helspira and maybe just maybe, they can stop the army of undead that's coming for them. This was a story about healing, about grief, and about friendship and opening yourself up to love again. It was a surprisingly sweet and touching story, it deals with a lot of heavy topics but also has many light moments. Its the first book in a series and if you like your cozy fantasy romances with a touch of heart, I'd definitely say give it a go.

Release Date: June 2, 2026

Publication/Blog: Ash and Books (ash-and-books.tumblr.com)

Rating: 3/5

Book Blurb:

An unnerving, hypnotic, modern gothic thriller set on a remote Irish island, where an artist is caught between deadly secrets, ancient superstition, and echoing madness. For fans of Simone St. James, Eve Chase, and Jennifer McMahon.

Off the southern tip of the Beara Peninsula lies Beanna Dubh, an island of savage beauty, its jagged cliffs lashed by Atlantic winds and infested by thousands of crows. Untouched by 21st-century advances, the islanders live under the strict rule of the church, while clinging to old superstitions of the crows as harbingers of disaster. To this desolate, unforgiving place Grizela Urquhart fled, seeking sanctuary from brutal bullying in her native Glasgow.  

40 years on, Grizela still remains an outsider—the eccentric painter viewed with distrust and barely tolerated. The feelings are mutual, for she has discovered there are as many secrets on Beanna Dubh as there are crows. 

When she stumbles upon the body of a young priest with a diabolical symbol drawn on his chest, the crows darken the skies, and Grizela is plagued by demonic whispers only she can hear. The islanders’ suspicions fall on her, but she fears the answers lie in her tortured past.  

As mass hysteria grows, Grizela scrambles to protect the innocent—a quartet of young girls she has taken under her wing. When she uncovers dark truths behind the girls’ mysterious midnight gatherings, her grip on reality unravels and she is faced with an impossible choice: do the unthinkable to protect the girls as the whispers urge, or come out of hiding to face the sins of her past.

Review:

A modern gothic set on a remote Irish thriller where an artist must grapple with deadly secrets, a community rife with superstition, and madness threatening to take over at any second. An eccentric painter finds herself in the middle of a mystery case when the body of a young priest is found with a strange symbol drawn on his chest. As more bodies begin to appear with symbols on them, the artist finds herself under suspicion but who is really behind it... and how is it connected to the group of young girls under her protection? This felt like a slow burn thriller and it's one for anyone who likes a small community filled with dark secrets. I found it to be an okay mystery for me, and I did like the whole "superstitious community" and think it would make a good autumnal day mystery read.

Release Date: July 28, 2026

Publication/Blog: Ash and Books (ash-and-books.tumblr.com)

Rating: 4.5/5

Book Blurb:

Wes After years of longing to fit in, I’m ready to give up and settle for a life meant for someone else. Staying on my family’s property was never the plan, but the pressure to stay is constant. When a chance meeting at a concert goes awry, I find myself drawn to the beautiful woman I threw a punch for. Through endless texts and hours long phone calls, our friendship grows, taking my heart along with it. When circumstances force us together, I know this is my shot to earn her affection – and more importantly, her trust.

Dahlia When a tattooed cowboy comes to my rescue at a concert, I’m more enamored than I’d like to be. And when that tattooed cowboy starts chipping away at the indestructible walls I’ve built around myself? I’m done for. Yet, I still hold fast that we can’t be more than friends without losing it all. Being with Wesley is easy and I find myself drawn to the future that could be, if I could only get out of my own way.

Review:

I absolutely had so much fun reading this!!! What an amazing time and it's the perfect cowboy romance with a friends to lovers relationship that you could ever want!! The dynamic between the two characters was just amazing and they had so much chemistry. I adored their relationship so much and the friendship and care they had for one another was so sweet. I can't wait to read the next book in this series and would absolutely read anything else this author writes next!

Release Date: August 7, 2026

Publication/Blog: Ash and Books (ash-and-books.tumblr.com)

Rating: 5/5

Book Blurb:

Centuries after the events of the #1 New York Times bestseller Wings of Starlight, two fairies must battle a dangerous magic—and their growing feelings for each other—in order to save their home in the Winter Woods of Pixie Hollow.

When frost fairy Periwinkle travels too close to the forbidden border where Spring meets the Winter Woods, she unknowingly discovers a thread of a lost magic. And, for the first time, she begins to dream. While Periwinkle’s dreams start sweet, they slowly morph into more disastrous visions of the Pixie Dust Tree—the life source for all of Pixie Hollow—destroyed. Soon Periwinkle is confronted by a sparrow man who knows two secrets: one, that Peri has been dreaming, and two, that the Winter Woods is in terrible danger. 

The infuriatingly handsome stranger introduces himself as Weaver, claiming to be a dream-talent, the last of his kind. There's a chance he can spin Periwinkle's dreams into dream thread which could protect the Pixie Dust Tree. But to do so, they will have to embark on a quest to find a magic spindle and scissors in the legendary lost fairy workshops of dream-talents past.

Peri begins a reluctant journey with Weaver through the uncharted heart of the Winter Woods. But dreaming is dangerous, and as Peri’s dreams begin to unravel, she will start to question everything she thought she knew. For in Winter even beautiful things can hurt you… and Weaver is no exception.

Return to Pixie Hollow with this exciting new story set in the world of Wings of Starlight several hundred years in the future.

Review:

Return to Pixie Hollow in this new journey featuring a frost fairy who must work together with a dream weaver solve the strange nightmares and unravel a long lost magic. Periwinkle is a popular and beautiful frost fairy, known for her kindness and thoughtfulness. Yet when she travels too close to the border between the Spring and Winter Woods, she discovers a lost magic... and her dreams begin to awaken. Periwinkle then meets an infuriating handsome stranger named Weaver, who claims to be a dream-talent, one of the last of his kind... and he could help Periwinkle with her dream thread. Periwinkle and Weaver must work together to save the Pixie Dust Tree... but the closer they go to saving the tree the closer they become... and Weaver is a hiding a secret that could destroy them both. Filled with magic, adventure, and a touch of romance, this was just another fantastic new journey in Pixie Hollow. I had such a fun time reading this and absolutely adored the adventure that it took me on. Periwinkle and Weaver were a really sweet couple and I just felt like this was just a wonderful take on a new Pixie Hollow story!

Release Date: August 4, 2026

Publication/Blog: Ash and Books (ash-and-books.tumblr.com)

Rating: 5/5

Book Blurb:

For janitor Hannah Harvey, cleaning up messes is the family business. Literally. When she finds herself pregnant from a one night stand with a stranger, she decides that a baby is one mess she’ll take on alone.

Out of her depth, but determined, Hannah decides to save herself the drama of ever telling the father. This seemed easy enough when he was only Barry Wright, hockey all-star living across the country, but becomes impossible when he gets traded to her city and trains in the very facility she cleans.

After crossing paths with a very pregnant Hannah, Barry is eager to help. But how do you help someone hellbent on proving they can take care of everything alone?

Desperate to keep him at arms length—but failing more with each of his attempts to care for her—Hannah will have to decide if love is worth the mess.

Review:

When a one night stand with a hot hockey player leads to an unexpected pregnancy... janitor Hannah Harvey does not expect to ever involve the guy she had a one night stand with in her kid's life... too bad that he's surprised her and is back in her life and he's more than determined to not only be a part of the kid's life but to also win Hannah's heart. This was such a cute book, it's the perfect amount of romance and spice. I was hooked from the start!! Seriously, Barry is the dream guy, he's so sweet and caring and he wants to support Hannah in everything. This book is such a great read and I adored it.

Release Date:June 18, 2026

Publication/Blog: Ash and Books (ash-and-books.tumblr.com)

Rating: 4/5

Book Blurb:

Revisit Rapunzel and Eugene from Disney's Tangled as they race to protect a neighboring kingdom in this thrilling fantasy adventure penned by the New York Times bestselling author of Little Thieves.

A cunning king. A devious princess. Best. Week. Ever.

Rapunzel knows nothing about her neighboring kingdom, Astera – and not just because she only left her tower a month ago. The famously reclusive island has limited its contact with outsiders for decades. So when a suspicious invitation arrives welcoming Rapunzel to the Asteran princess’s coming of age ceremony, and offering her a chance to be useful for the first time since she lost her healing powers, Rapunzel accepts – and unwittingly plunges herself and her companion, Eugene, into a tangled knot of political intrigue and magical secrets.

Eugene is just happy to get one last adventure with Rapunzel before his criminal background catches up with him and prevents their happy ending. Yet as they’re drawn further into the country’s problems, they uncover truths about Eugene’s parentage that point to deeper unrest in Astera, and suddenly the fate of their own kingdom, not just their personal dreams, is at stake.

Thrust into a power struggle between Astera’s beloved princess, Verette, its domineering king, Enver, and a mysterious secret society, Rapunzel and Eugene race to protect their home from an unsettlingly familiar threat and discover that the past can either hold them back, or help them blossom.

Review:

Rapunzel and Eugene's adventures continue after Tangled in this new story about them getting used to their new lives and uncovering new secrets and protecting a neighboring kingdom. Rapunzel is not used to being a princess but she's determined to prove her worth and when a neighboring kingdom needs help, she's going to give it to them. Eugene knows his time as Rapunzel's companion is possibly coming to an end because what kingdom would want a thief as their princess's significant other... but he's happy to just be around her even if this could be their last adventure. What Eugene does not expect is that this new kingdom is related to his past... that he's about to unlock secrets about who his own parents were and what truly happened to him. I absolutely adore Tangled and this was a really fun continuation of the story featuring the two characters and seeing their relationship blossom as well as the new adventure unfold with them. It was such a fun read and honestly, I would have fun with this if it were even made into a animated short or sequel film for Tangled!

Release Date: July 28, 2026

Publication/Blog: Ash and Books (ash-and-books.tumblr.com)

Rating: 3/5

Book Blurb:

The remaining members of a ghost hunting show return to the haunted manor that may have killed their friend in this “moody, character-driven” (School Library Journal, starred review) contemporary gothic debut perfect for fans of She Is a Haunting and Delicious Monsters.

Four teens went into the manor, three came out.

In July, Georgia Perry and Jules Park—secret girlfriends, covert art thieves, and cohosts of a popular YouTube ghost hunting show—step into a haunted house to steal a priceless painting. A few short hours later, there’s a knife in Jules’s chest and Georgia is waking up in a pool of blood with no painting and no memory of how she got there.

Now it’s October, and Georgia is underwater. She hasn’t been to class in weeks, and she’s avoiding her old crew—and only friends—like the plague. But when the three remaining thieves get a call from the man who paid a hefty sum to keep them out of jail, demanding that they return to finish the job, Georgia has no choice but to return to her old life.

As the estranged friends scramble to steal the painting with no cover story and no leader, they quickly realize that something is very, very wrong, and it’s not just the suffocating memory of Jules or the prying eyes of their viewers. Between the strange shadows that begin to trail them and the nightmares plaguing Georgia’s sleep, only one thing is certain: something followed them home from De Lys manor, and it will do anything to keep them from going back.

Review:

Trying to solve the mystery of the ghost who killed their friend while dealing with an art heist and relationship drama...nobody said being a ghost hunter would be easy. This one was a slowburn mystery with many POVS yet the voices felt indistinguishable. I really wanted to like this because the premise sounded fun and the cover was stunning... but the problem is that it just left me bored. The character relationships were messy and the voices between them all just did't feel well fleshed out. This was too slowburn for me unfortunately and I wish I could like this more. While it's a miss for me, if you enjoy slow burn horror mysteries, definitely give it a go.

Release Date: July 28, 2026

Publication/Blog: Ash and Books (ash-and-books.tumblr.com)

Rating: 2/5

Book Blurb:

A woman returns to the mysterious lodge in the woods where she once worked, and to the inscrutable creature that bound her there, in this haunting Appalachian gothic horror from singular voice Jen Julian. Perfect for fans of Alix E. Harrow and T. Kingfisher.

"A mesmerizing and spell-binding tale, beautifully told, that you will not want to end. You, too, will never want to leave Deerhaven." – Bitter Karella, author of Moonflow

This is the story of Moth, who earned her name working for the Winter Folk.

Every year, the mythical Winter Folk gather at a secret lodge, a place known only as Deerhaven.

Moth was a housekeeper there once. A trusted confidant of Mr. Oslin, the enigmatic master of the house. 

But Deerhaven is dangerous. The rules are exacting. The consequences for break them are dire.

Moth has not been allowed back in decades. Still, she feels its call. She will finder her way back. She needs to see him again. No matter the cost.

Review:

An Appalachian gothic horror mystery with a bit of a Spirited Away vibe! This was definitely a unique story and its got a bit of a slower read for sure but I do think that it could be fun for anyone who enjoys a naturey gothic vibe kind of story with a slow tempo. While it wasn't for me, I can see others enjoying this.

Release Date: July 21, 2026

Publication/Blog: Ash and Books (ash-and-books.tumblr.com)

Rating: 3/5

Book Blurb:

A deliciously twisted, fast-paced YA horror, where debutante dreams become bloody nightmares—perfect for fans of House of Hollow and Their Vicious Games.  It’s 1921, and Mrs. Caroline Reginald Kane, the last surviving descendant of a family of oil barons, has invited four young debutantes to visit her at Greystone Manor. There, they'll compete for the ultimate prize: to become heir to her unspeakably vast fortune.

But only one girl can win.

And the manor is watching.

Dorothea is a thief, and the best liar in the American Northeast. Her mother vanished at Greystone years ago, and she’s determined to find out why—so long as no one uncovers her secrets first.

Vaughn isn’t crazy. She was born for this life—and she won’t let anyone come between her and the fortune she deserves.  

Birdie doesn’t know why she’s been invited, but she believes everything happens for a reason…and that reason just might be divine.

Elspeth is called “pretty as a peach, dim as a doorknob.” But she sees things that the others can't: whispering birds, shifting doors, and a language that should never be spoken.

And there’s something else hidden behind these walls. Something sinister.

It doesn’t plan to let them leave alive.

Review:

Four strangers, the opportunity to become an heir to a vast fortune... and a manor that is filled with secrets. Set in the 1920s, the last surviving descendant of a family of oil barons holds a competition at her manor, in which four young debutantes have the opportunity to compete to be named her sole heir... yet the moment they get there things feel off. This is a YA mystery horror with a splash of historical setting! I think this was definitely a unique horror mystery and following multiple different characters as well as taking in the historical setting was a unique vibe. While it was just okay for me, I do think that this could be a fun read for other YA mystery horror fans, especially if you love female friendship/survival stories.

Release Date: July 14, 2026

Publication/Blog: Ash and Books (ash-and-books.tumblr.com)

Rating: 4/5

Book Blurb:

One queen exiled. Another headed for the gallows. Both hungry for revenge. England’s most infamous queens unite in vengeance against Henry VIII.

Anne Boleyn is going to die, and neither her cleverness nor her witchery can save her. So when her late rival, Catalina de Aragón, miraculously appears in her cell at the Tower of London on the eve of her execution, very much alive and offering a daring escape plan, no one is more surprised than Anne.

Lina doesn’t have Anne’s magic—but she has just as much hate for England’s wretched king. Severed from her daughter and stripped of all her influence, Lina breathes only for the Hellebore Sisterhood, a clandestine and powerful society with a vested interest in keeping both queens alive . . . and using their particular skills to advance womankind.

Anne and Lina’s old rivalries pale in comparison to a common enemy. And they're not alone. Anna von Kleve, Kat Howard, and even Catherine Parr all have their own bones to pick with the king. One by one, they capture their pawns, infiltrating the court and eliminating the men who plotted against them. Always inching closer to their true target . . .

And they want his head.

Review:

A new reimagining of the wives of Henry VIII, but this time they've faked their deaths and they are determined to get revenge against him. Anne Boleyn is about to die... and the last thing she expects is to see that her last visitor is none other than the supposedly deceased queen, Catalina de Aragón... alive. Lina saves Anne and offers her a deal, and together they decide to save Anne's cousin, Kat from him. This new reimagining of the Henry's wives and the last days of his life was such an interesting read. I love this specific historical time and the new spin on the wives was a delightful reimagining. It's a fantastic time and honestly., if you want something fun, filled with female rage, and revenge, absolutely give this one a go.

Release Date: July 21. 2026

Publication/Blog: Ash and Books (ash-and-books.tumblr.com)