Mini Reviews Wrap Up June 2025

 

Here at Chapter Break, we don’t always write a full review of every book we read. Well, now we decided to do these monthly wrap-up posts with roundups of our reviews this month and mini-reviews to fill in the gaps. Enjoy!

Mini Book Reviews

 

Julie’s Mini Reviews:

Zodiac Academy 2: Ruthless Fae:  I didn’t want to give up on this series because book tok is so feral over it. Everyone’s saying they didn’t say the first book was a good read, they said it was 5 stars. Well I think I get why, with the emotional damage I felt from all the bullying it really did its job getting under my skin. So I had to read the next one to see what happened. Book 2 is so different. It’s funny! It’s more spicy! And the amount of delicious revenge pranks made my day. And how the twins grow in their power and abilities, also working with their enemies to combine powers against a common enemy, was so good. Book 3 now please. (Method read: audiobook)

A Court of Wings and Ruin: The awaited for epic battle book, which I might have tossed my phone out the window if I hadn’t read a spoiler about a particular scene. But I wanted more time with Rhys and Feyre, more of their fun flirtations. This one was more serious. I can see why ACOMAF is the fan favorite in the series. (Method read: audiobook)

Knot of Souls Already being a fan of this author I was excited to see this new standalone new release. The premise is intriguing: a fae being takes over a human body after she was murdered, except to find the soul had not fully vacated the body. Now, they are getting mixed up – so what happens to them individually? The faery world isn’t new but this take on it was unique – especially the ability of the fae possessing a vacant human host, healing it, and continuing to live and impact the human world. This is so different from the usual faerie changelings. Each being is intent on solving their own murder mystery, forced to work together or fight over the host. The story was curiously woven throughout and I enjoyed how all the pieces connected the two characters. The human in death/near death grows so much and conquers so many of her human fears, embracing something bigger than herself. The fae, in turn, learns compassion, to trust others, and work as a team. The importance of friendship and connection are the main themes in the story, while the characters deal with the murders and uncover the secrets that bring everything to light. The true villain and motive was a fun twist as well. I enjoyed the ending and agreed it was the right fit for the characters as they evolved over the course of their shared journey. (Method read: eyeballs e-book)

The Swan Harp: Wings of Valenia Book One: I received this ARC a long time ago and I finally got around to reading it. This is a MG/YA reimagined retelling of an old fable about swan sisters being in love with the same man and tragedy and magic and all that. I call it more MG because the sisters start out much younger and grow up over time. I liked how the author took the fable and focused on a middle sister who doesn’t always get portrayed in this fable. The kingdom and the relationship between the swan people and the human people was interesting, and of course there has to be an enemy from another kingdom to cause trouble. I thought the story was interesting over all, once it got going, and the last third of the book was exciting. But it took a long time to get to the part in the story where the fable picks up, and the day to day lives of an heir and her family was paced too slowly. We have spans of multiple years in most of the book and then the last third over about a week. The simple nature of the telling from the heir’s POV generally didn’t have enough emotion to really help you connect with the story – save for the ending where the family tragedy and sister’s magic kick off the real plot of the fable. I liked that the book had a satisfactory ending, and seemed to complete the retelling. I’m wondering why there needs to be more in the series, unless it just picks up to follow these characters as they continue to grow into their various queen roles. Or maybe the author selects a different fable to retell for the other books. I’d give it a solid 3.5 but the length and MG nature of the book might not be what most adult fantasy readers might be looking for. I would recommend it for a more YA audience though interested in magic (light and dark), swan shifters, and a princess heir who fights for her kingdom. (Method read: eyeballs physical book)

 

 

 

 

 

Lynn’s Mini Reviews:

  A GRIM REAPER’S GUIDE TO CATCHING A KILLER: Cozy-adjacent murder mystery, where the main character helps ferry souls of the recently departed but ends up with a surly teenage client who doesn’t want to move on. I enjoyed the pairing of Connor (the ghost) and Kathy (the titular grim reaper). Lots of red herrings in this murder mystery. Appreciated how Conner helps Kathy discover her more adventurous and emotionally available side. Clever and original concept. Overall, enjoyed this read.

  THERE’S SOMETHING ABOUT MIRA: I loved Sonali Dev’s Rajes’s series, but this one was a slow start for me. I always struggle when women are expected to be nothing but wives and mothers and to capitulate to everyone else’s wants. The story does pick up once Mira gets away from her family. Rumi (Mira’s brother) and his partner Saket are a lovey couple. The historic love story between Vasu and Suru is bittersweet. Mira and Krish’s romance is slow-burn, at least from Mira’s perspective. What I really appreciated about that plot line was how Krish brings out Mira’s more feisty side. And Mira is A LOT more interesting after that. Overall, I’d say a good but not amazing love story.

  BUTCHER & BLACKBIRD: I don’t know that I would have picked this book up on my own. But Julie has been talking about it for weeks now. So I gave it a go. It’s definitely outside of my comfort zone on the spice and violence fronts. But while the sex scenes don’t exactly move the plot forward, they are crucial to the character development. This one is certainly a dark romance, between two serial killers (who kill other worse bad guys). It does make me wonder if the actions of Sloane and Rowan are justified in that sense? With no mention of repercussions of their actions, I was in an ethical dilemma while listening. There are a couple of random plot points which weren’t resolved and were probably nothing but that I fixated upon. The audio narration is excellent. I especially appreciated that the two narrators are not relegated to their own chapters. Each narrates their parts throughout the novel. Fast and engaging read as well. Recommended as long as you are ok with sex and violence.

THE GEOGRAPHER’S MAP TO ROMANCE: India Holton’s books make me smile. And I needed that after Butcher & Blackbird. With a little bit of magic, and a whole bunch of innuendo, we have the romance between Elodie and Gabriel, an estranged married couple. Hijinks ensue. There is a very salacious shoe buttoning scene. And some saving the world on the side. Lots of train riding. This couple could have used the magical flying houses from the DANGEOUS DAMSELS series. It was adorable. And happy. And well-worth the listen.

  THE SHATTERED WORLD: I’m loving this series. It does remind me somewhat of Illuminae, with different characters being the main focus of this story. Then wondering how the heck this story tied into the first in the series. Fear not, readers! Tarver and Lilac make an appearance! I really liked the Romeo & Juliet premise here, with Jubilee coming from the planet of Verona, and being the military occupying force, while Flynn is a pacifist rebel. This story of trying to save their planet predominates the plot. But their love story pokes it’s way into our hearts. Excellent narration. And I’m ready for the third book in this series!

 

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Books we reviewed in full this month:

• [5 Jun] Eat A Rainbow, Ellie: Colorful Snack Time for A Healthy Little Chick (Ellie The Chick Book 3) by Avery Smart
• [24 Jun] Wicked Sea and Sky (Curse of Ever) by Jenna Collett ★★★★½
• [29 Jun] The Sirens by Emilia Hart

 

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