Mini Reviews Wrap Up January 2026

Posted January 31, 2026 by Julie S. in Wrap Ups and Mini Reviews / 0 Comments

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:

Let Sleeping Gods Lie (The Chronicles of Corbin Pierce Book 1): I would describe this as a cozy mystery, focusing on ancient Native magic and environmental activism. I appreciated the reverence and care the story takes on the environment and the Native community, the spirit animals, and the main character’s intentions of doing the right thing at all costs. I will say the book overall was a bit bland for me – little character development, info dumpy and yet the magical system wasn’t super clear, not much emotional depth that I crave from the fantasies I typically read. I did enjoy the sarcasm the main character likes to narrate in, and the opening line was quite fun, even if it took quite a while for me to get into the story. For a book that’s less than 300 pages, it took me 5 days to complete it. So overall a good read if you’re into ancient and Native magic, self-sacrifice, spirit raccoons who love french fries, activism, and an academic setting.

The Bookbinder’s Secret: A Novel: Thanks to Netgalley for a chance to read and review this historical mystery audiobook. I enjoyed the overall premise of a bookbinder finding some mysterious books with secret letters in them and beginning to unravel a mystery containing secrets someone is willing to kill for. The delivery was slow for my liking, and it took quite a while to get into the story. We switch between “present day” and the timeframe of the mystery, told between letters. I really liked the story within the letters, and was invested in the unraveling of her tragic situation. But I was not as invested in the present day story, where I felt we didn’t get much character development or maybe I just didn’t feel connected to the main character, or maybe it was just that I didn’t like her very much. There was a bit of a love triangle, and past secrets she eventually reveals but it felt shallower than what I was feeling about the story in the letters. The main character’s connections to people felt very tell not show, while in the letters you truly believe the forbidden love. The audiobook was good, but a bit on the monotone side with little variation between the characters, so I did find my focus coming in and out. Overall I think it would be an enjoyable book for people who love a historical mystery, enjoy details about book binding and collection, and high stakes danger.

Bright Midnights (The Limerent Series): Bright Midnights pulled me into the story immediately. The writing was so immersive and fast-paced. But check your triggers because this is *dark* and also YA, making the content more disturbing. The experiences and dream travels are so vivid and beautifully descriptive, while the dark love story and other content are at odds with the lovely stories. The main characters are complex, and the situations are scary at times. The decisions Amelie makes really fit her upper high school personality, making it both relatable and infuriating. The timeless pull between Amelie and Clovis in their love story is both exhilarating and heartbreaking. The book ends in a shocking way and does not give all the answers. I want answers. I know it’s part of a series, but each book follows a different set of characters. Do we get more of their story in the other books? I very much enjoyed it but was left with so many questions at the end. I need the next story!
Thanks to WOW! Women on Writing Review Event for the review copy of Bright Midnights.

The Poet Empress This book was more historical palace politics than fantasy, showing the cruelty of the prince and others in his circle. Check your triggers as there is a lot of abuse, SA and physical, and everyone is execution happy. The historical aspects of imperial China mixed with magic were interesting, and the story showed how brutal life was for people in that time (famine, death). Women were not allowed to be literate, so our main character had to hide her talents, and still suffer for it (that literacy test, sheesh). The main premise was whether or not she will kill the evil prince heir, her husband, to save the nation from his cruel rule. He is brutally violent and abusive. But as the story goes on, you get to know him and understand some of why he is the way he is. At the end you even see him getting softer, but is it too little too late? There are dragons, but barely mentions throughout except for the ending battle to claim the throne, which I thought was an interesting way of becoming emperor. The audiobook was well done, voices for each character well different and clear. It’s just the content was dragging for me and I found myself losing focus a lot. I received this audiobook for review from Netgalley.

Blonde Identity: Since Lynn raved about this book last fall, I added it to my Libby holds. So here we go. It was so cute and fun! Enjoyed the amnesia girl who doesn’t know who she is but is really badass and really enjoyed the fast paced action and romance. Definitely a great read in between all the heavier stuff I’ve been reading. Formulaic but enjoyable. I appreciated that it was rather short and quick to consume. The audio was good but I didn’t quite like the way the guy narrator did the “her” voice. Really like the female narrator! Looks like I’ll have to catch up and read book 2.

Lynn’s Mini Reviews:

THE BLONDE WHO CAME IN FROM THE COLD: I don’t care what the detractors say, I love this series. The first book slightly more so that this one. This is adversaries to lovers, with two spies being constantly thrown together for missions, while trying to hide their growing feelings for one another. LOTS of witty banter and flirting and sexual tension. Some explosions. Some spy craft (it’s not like the movies!). Mostly a quick and fun read. Worth reading the first in the series (BLONDE IDENTITY) but not completely necessary.

THE DEAD ROMANTICS: A romance novelist who doesn’t believe in romance any longer (bad breakup) and a ghost meet up at a funeral home. Instalove ensues. The plot was somewhat predictable, with a few oh wow moments thrown in. I found Florence’s need to do everything by herself without help a little to on the nose for my own preference. (I at least sometimes ask for help.) I did really like Ben with his buttoned up life becoming unhinged as he falls for Florence. I’d call most of the book 3 stars. But, to be perfectly honest, the ending blew me away. Sweet and squishy and happily ever after. 3 stars for most of the book. 5 stars for the ending.

THE UNTOLD STORY: (Presumably) the last in the series. Which, for me, was bittersweet. Though, I commend Cogman for actually ending a series instead of dragging it out for too many (not great) books. This time around sees Irene and the crew of usual characters discovering the true story of the Library’s beginning. What I really liked is this is an Irene-centric story. More introspective throughout than action-y. We do get some action (and dragon battles) towards the end. The politics plot line that’s dominated over the previous few books is resolved. We get true friendship with Kai, Vale, and Catherine. Loved this whole series. No open plot lines remain. But maybe the possibilities of future adventures. My only complaint is multiple POV’s would have heightened my enjoyment.

DUNGEON CRAWLER CARL: This is for all those other people who said to read this book. Yes. Screaming from the rooftops. It’s HILARIOUS. Sure. There are some gruesome bits. But dripping with sarcasm. The basic premise is a role-playing game in book form. Aliens take over the earth through alien contract flim-flam. A lot of humans die. Those who survive are forced into a kill or be killed situation. Carl, our main character has some actual skills, is wearing pink crocs, boxer shorts, and a leather coat. And toting a grand champion cat beauty contest winner. The cat is freaking HILARIOUS. I don’t have any video or role-playing game experience and did not have any issues reading this book. The world-building and play is explained to readers as Carl figures it out. I need a NEW ACHEIVEMENT announcer in my life. Audio narration is well done, especially with the main characters. 12/5 stars. Would recommend. But only if you don’t take life and death too seriously. And yes, I will be continuing on with this series!

THE IRRESISTIBLE URGE TO FALL FOR YOUR ENEMY: Kind of ok. Here’s the thing. The banter between Osric and Aurienne is well done. They even remark multiple times about how well they banter and argue. And there is also yearning between the two. But the scenes where they aren’t together? Those fall flat. I just didn’t really care. Most of the novel sees Aurienne trying to heal Osric with a thought experiment, full moon, a bunch of hope on Osric’s part and skepticism on Aurienne’s part. These two are from diametrically opposed factions (healers and assassins). And that’s the main point of the novel. There is also some world building, where the magic is explained. The magic feels like the Dark Materials books, with spectral animal familiars. The variety of animals is fun (a sea urchin and an axolotl show up in the secondary characters.) The plot does pick up towards the end with some of the mysteries solved and some more action-y scenes. I’m interested enough to read the next book. But not in a rush. Bonus points for duel audio narrators. Both narrators do a great job. Let’s call this 3 1/2 stars rounded up to 4.

Books we reviewed in full this month:

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