The Night Ends with Fire by K. X. Song

I initially picked up this book because it sounded interesting, and I admit the cover attracted my attention. It is tagged as Science Fiction and Fantasy, both genres I enjoy, but it failed to mention it is also a romance, a genre I avoid at all costs. When I first started reading the book, I thought the writing style and characters were more in line with a Young Adult audience than with the Adult Fiction book it was billed as. It took me two tries before I was engaged enough in the plot to finish the book, but finish it I did! What finally drew me in was the exploration of myths and Meilin's use of her spirit powers. I found both good examples of the Fantasy genre.

Eighteen-year-old Meilin's life is rapidly going downhill. Living with an opium-addicted, abusive father, she is destined to marry an equally abusive husband. When war breaks out in the Three Kingdoms, Meilin sees her chance to escape by posing as a male and joining the army. She pulls it off and quickly makes friends through hard work and bravery in battle. She has also caught the eye of Sky, one of the warlords' sons. Although Sky doesn't suspect Meilin's duplicity, Meilin has feelings for him that are unbecoming of a soldier. What Meilin also discovers is that the necklace she just inherited from her mother has special powers that grant her access to the spirit realm, and a sea dragon spirit who guides her. Unfortunately, her powers are seen as black magic and punishable by death. With her secrets mounting, Meilin is torn between her deepening feelings for Sky and using her powers to help win the war. 

This is a fast-paced book that follows Meilin as she overcomes one obstacle after another — either through sheer determination or by using her magical powers. This is an action-driven story that spends little time developing the characters. I did get used to the writing style and skimmed the parts dealing with Meilin's feelings for Sky. For me, an annoying part was the use of names. Both Chinese and English names were used haphazardly. For every "Zilong", there was a "Sparrow." The author should have decided which to use and stuck with that. I know my reading taste is selective, and this review will be an outlier, but I can't give this book more than three stars. 

3/5 stars.

Thank you, NetGalley and Ace, for a review copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own. This book was published on July 2, 2024. 

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Evil in the Family by Michael Wood

Forensic Psychologist Dr. Olivia Winter is back in this third book in the series (The Mind of a Murderer; The Devil's Code) with more emotional baggage than would fit in a steamer trunk. The daughter, who was almost a victim of her serial killer father, Olivia, has, understandably, unresolved issues. She is obsessed with serial killers, making the study of them her life's work. This latest killer's crimes are so heinous that Olivia is forced to come to terms with her demons.

A family is slain, and their bodies are posed in a macabre tableau that tests DI Foley's resolve. For the first time, Dr. Olivia Winter is called in to help with an active crime and must work the case and see the bodies at the scene. Unnerved, Olivia struggles to help the police capture a killer who leaves no DNA or reason for the killings. When another family is killed, the police, with no leads, must rely on Olivia's psychological analysis to point them in the right direction. Nothing ties the killings together, and a frustrated Foley is under pressure to find the killer.

Michael Wood is the master of the dark, psychological thriller. Between this and his DI Matilda Darke series, Wood's flawed, yet strong female protagonists, ring true. In this book, Olivia is pushed to the limits, and while I felt she was a bit whiny at times, she pulled through and finally admitted she may need psychological help herself. I enjoyed this book. Olivia is growing as a character, interestingly, and the plot was riveting. Although I didn't buy into the red herring that was floated, I did question who the killer might be — it kept me guessing. 

4.5/5 stars.

Thank you, NetGalley and One More Chapter, for an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own. The publication date is March 31, 2026. 

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Nowhere Burning by Catronia Ward

 Catronia Ward is a wonderful storyteller. Her novels, always dark and suspenseful, are beautifully written and character-driven.

Fourteen-year-old Riley flees an abusive home situation with her seven-year-old brother, Oliver. With only cryptic directions to the children's shelter, Nowhere, high in the Colorado mountains, she and Oliver set out to find safety among the other runaways. Nowhere, once the home of a famous movie star, is now a burned-out ranch with only a barn for shelter. At first, Riley finds an answer to her problems, but as she digs deeper, she discovers the inhabitants aren't all they seem. She begins to question if she and Oliver are truly safe.

This novel is part psychological horror story and part suspenseful story about the ghostly remains of the Nowhere ranch and its former inhabitant. There are two timelines: the present with Riley and the past about the movie star. That wasn't clear at first, and was confusing until I figured it out. There are plot twists and unreliable narrators that kept me guessing. 

4/5 stars.

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The Devil's Code by Michael Wood

Forensic psychologist and serial-killer researcher Dr. Olivia Winter was introduced in The Mind of a Murderer . The survivor of a serial killer--her own father--Winter has dedicated her life to finding out what makes killers tick. 

Isaac McFadden is on his way to dispose of a dismembered body when a routine traffic stop catches him. He is uncooperative and is quickly convicted of the killing. Then, McFadden's notebook is found, containing a code indicating he may have killed multiple times. Unable to crack the code, the police turn to Olivia to try to get McFadden to open up about the killings and to help in solving the code. Olivia's noted professional reputation and her personal history have drawn unwanted attention and distracted her from her investigation. This, combined with a manipulative McFadden, makes Olivia's task all the more difficult.

I am a fan of Wood's DCI Matilda Darke series, and this series is proving equally enjoyable. As with all of his books, this is a dark and chilling read. It is also suspenseful with good twists and excellent characters. I highly recommend this book and author. 

4/5 stars.

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Lords of Uncreation by Adrian Tchaikovsky

This last book in The Final Architecture trilogy (Shards of Earth , Eyes of the Void) finds the crew of the Vulture God scattered and fighting their own wars.

Previously, Idris discovered that a higher intelligence was directing the Architects to destroy planets. He now uncovers more information about the Presence that is enslaving the Architects and finds out their ultimate goal: to destroy all humanity. Tasked with trying to communicate with the Presence, Idris and the other Intermediaries must try to reason with an all-powerful entity. 

Meanwhile, tensions between the Magda and the Parenthi are escalating, and political intrigue is mounting among the various governing bodies. 

This is a satisfying conclusion to the series. Tchaikovsky’s world-building and his depiction of the vastness of the universe are excellent. Although there were many storylines, it wasn't hard to follow them and the various characters. I thought the pacing was good, but lagged when the spotlight was on Idris and his exploration of subspace and his search for the Presence. 

4.5/5 stars.

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The Keeper by Tana French

This elegantly written novel explores life in a small Irish town when tragedy strikes. In this final book in the Cal Hooper trilogy (The Searcher, The Hunter ), French does an excellent job of wrapping up the series. 

When Rachel Holohan's body is found in the river, the village of Ardnakelty questions what happened. Was she murdered or did she commit suicide? The village takes sides, and the rumors that spread threaten to ruin the life of Cal Hooper's fiancée, Lena. At the heart is a scheme by local developer Tommy Moynihan. His plan to build a factory could enhance the village's prosperity, but it could also forever change the way of life. Rachel, privy to the scheme's facts, was conflicted about the development and the extent of Monyihan's ambitions. As the mystery surrounding her death deepens, and the rumors get more far-reaching, old feuds and power dynamics are tested.

French's lyrical prose paints a vivid picture of what can happen when rumors tear apart a small village. Her depiction of the village, its inhabitants, and the reaction to a tragedy is spot-on. This novel is both suspenseful and engrossing. I have loved the character development that has unfolded over the three books. Cal, from an outsider to a village stalwart; Trey, from a semi-feral girl to a young woman with a bright future, are both indelibly printed on my memory. I will miss the residents of Ardnakelty, but I'm sure whatever direction French takes next, I'll be along for the ride. 

4.5/5 stars.

Thank you, NetGalley and Viking, for an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own. The publication date is March 31, 2026.

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Eyes of the Void by Adrian Tchaikovsky

 In this second book of The Final Architecture trilogy (Shards of Earth), Tchaikovsky picks up right where Shards of Earth left off. Both books have interesting characters and compelling storylines.

The Architects have returned after eighty years, following an uneasy, peaceful reprieve for the planets that house the humans and aliens who inhabit them. An Architect is attacking Arc Pallator, a Hegemonic world that contains a vast collection of Originators artifacts. The crew of the Vulture God is on the planet when the attack begins, and Idris is kidnapped once again. This time, his kidnappers want him to use his Intermediary skills to unlock the mystery of unspace and help find the origins of the Architects.

Tchaikovsky does an excellent job of world-building and creating alien cultures. In this fast-paced novel, he advances the main storyline of the series — finding ways to defeat the Architects — and moves into a more cerebral context, exploring the creation of unspace. There is still plenty of action, however, to satisfy even the most ardent space opera lovers. This is a wonderful series, and I'll be sad when it wraps up. 

4.5/5 stars.

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