Sarai Henderson's Blog, page 5

Vampire Wednesday: Bury Our Bones in the Midnight Soil by V. E. Schwab

 

Title: Bury Our Bones int eh Midnight Soil

By: V.E. Schwab

Genre: Fantasy

Pages: 535

Release Date: June 10th, 2025

Rating: ★★★★★

 

Summary from Goodreads:This is a story about hunger.1532. Santo Domingo de la Calzada.A young girl grows up wild and wily—her beauty is only outmatched by her dreams of escape. But María knows she can only ever be a prize, or a pawn, in the games played by men. When an alluring stranger offers an alternate path, María makes a desperate choice. She vows to have no regrets.
This is a story about love.1827. London.A young woman lives an idyllic but cloistered life on her family’s estate, until a moment of forbidden intimacy sees her shipped off to London. Charlotte’s tender heart and seemingly impossible wishes are swept away by an invitation from a beautiful widow—but the price of freedom is higher than she could have imagined.
This is a story about rage.2019. Boston.College was supposed to be her chance to be someone new. That’s why Alice moved halfway across the world, leaving her old life behind. But after an out-of-character one-night stand leaves her questioning her past, her present, and her future, Alice throws herself into the hunt for answers . . . and revenge.
This is a story about life—how it ends, and how it starts.

 

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Review:I waited so long to get my hands on this one, and it was absolutely worth every second. V.E. Schwab delivers another hauntingly beautiful story, this time with two darkly compelling vampire POVs. I’m not always a fan of dual perspectives, but Schwab makes it seamless. Each vampire’s journey was distinct, eerie, and full of depth, and watching their stories twist together was nothing short of mesmerizing. This book sank its teeth into me and didn’t let go.

Received an advance reader copy in exchange for a fair review. 

August 2025 Wrap Up

 

August was an incredible reading month. I managed to make my way through 36 books! From quick, bingeable reads to sprawling epics that demanded every ounce of my attention, this month had a little bit of everything. Looking back, I’m both amazed and excited to share the highlights, the surprises, and even the stories that didn’t quite hit the mark.

281/100 2025 Reading Challenge~113/217 in my Star Wars Legends challenge~18/20 2024 Goodreads Fantasy Nominees Reading Challenge

August turned out to be one of my best reading months yet, and I loved the variety that came with tackling 36 books. Some stories swept me away completely, while others pushed me out of my comfort zone in the best ways. Looking back, I’m proud of how much I was able to explore, and I’m already curious to see how September’s stack will measure up. Here’s to another month filled with new adventures, unexpected favorites, and plenty of pages to turn!

Weekly Menu #623 And The Book Of The Week

 

This week I’m taking my taste buds to Hungary, a cuisine that thrives on rich paprika, warming stews, and hearty comfort foods. From smoky lentil soups to creamy chicken paprikash, I’ve built a high protein menu that leans on chicken, pork, fish, legumes, and plenty of dairy., keeping beef to a minimum while still celebrating the bold, soulful flavors Hungarian cooking is known for. It’s a menu that feels both nourishing and indulgent, perfect for the last stretch of summer.

On the reading front, I’ve picked up Remain by Nicholas Sparks and M. Night Shyamalan, two storytellers I have a definite love-hate relationship with. Sparks has a way of pulling emotions out of me whether I want him to or not, and Shyamalan always leaves me guessing whether I’ll get a brilliant twist or something a little unhinged. Either way, it should be an interesting pairing, and I’m curious to see how this collaboration unfolds.

WEEKLY MENU

Monday

Grilled Trout with lemon + Savanyúság

Kids - Grilled Cheesy Fries

 

Tuesday

Lentil Leves

Kids - Chicken Soup

 

Wednesday

Roast Chicken Legs with braised red cabbage

Kids - Chicken Tenders with Carrots

 

Thursday

Pork Tenderloin Paprikás

Kids - Pork with Butter Noodles

 

Friday

Baked Pike-Perch with dill potatoes

Kids - Fish Sticks and Fries

 

Saturday

Grilled Chicken Skewers with paprika marinade + cucumber salad

Kids - Chicken and cucumbers

 

Sunday

Leftovers Night

Sunday Confessions #320

 

It’s that time again. Sunday Book Confessions! The weekly moment where I spill the truth about my reading life: the books I loved, the ones I struggled with, and the guilty little habits that crept into my reading week. Think of it as a cozy catch up over coffee, where I admit what actually happened between the covers (of books, of course).

Sunday Confessions #319~Weekly Menu #622 And The Book Of The Week~ARC Review: Murder in Retrograde by Greg Hickey~ARC Review: And the River Drags Her Down by Jihyun Yun~Book Review: Atmosphere by Taylor Jenkins Reid~
Fantasy Friday: The Book That Wouldn't Burn by Mark Lawrence

Weekly Menu #623 And The Book Of The Week~August 2025 Wrap Up~Vampire Wednesday: Bury Our Bones in the Midnight Soil by V. E. Schwab~ARC Review: Red City by Marie Lu~Fiction Friday: The Edge of Water by Olufunke Grace Bankole~Sunday Confessions #321

Alphabet SquadronAlexander Freed

★★★★☆

Alphabet Squadron by Alexander Freed is a thrilling addition to the Star Wars universe. I loved seeing familiar characters return, woven seamlessly into a new story full of heart, grit, and starfighter action. The balance of nostalgia with fresh perspectives made this a standout read, and while a few pacing lulls kept it from being a perfect five, it’s still an exciting and worthwhile journey for any Star Wars fan.

273/100 2025 Reading Challenge~110/217 in my Star Wars Legends challenge~18/20 2024 Goodreads Fantasy Nominees Reading Challenge

And that’s the roundup of this week’s bookish truths. Some confessions are easy, some a little harder to admit, but all part of the joy (and chaos) of being a reader. Now it’s your turn. What are your bookish confessions this week?

Fantasy Friday: The Book That Wouldn't Burn by Mark Lawrence

 

Title: The Book That Wouldn't Burn

By: Mark Lawrence

Genre: Fantasy

Pages: 551

Release Date: May 1st, 2023

Rating: ★★★★☆

 

Summary from Goodreads:A boy has lived his whole life trapped within a vast library, older than empires and larger than cities.
A girl has spent hers in a tiny settlement out on the Dust where nightmares stalk and no one goes.
The world has never even noticed them. That's about to change.
Their stories spiral around each other, across worlds and time. This is a tale of truth and lies and hearts, and the blurring of one into another. A journey on which knowledge erodes certainty, and on which, though the pen may be mightier than the sword, blood will be spilled and cities burned.

 

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Review:While the pacing dragged at times, The Book That Wouldn’t Burn is a story that sticks with you. The journey these characters take is nothing short of epic. I mean, right from the start, a little girl jumps into a monster’s mouth and kills it from the inside. Full-on Drax mode! The way time is used, especially within the library, is brilliant, and I loved how it helped the main characters uncover shared truths and break down the walls between them. If you can get through the slow bits, the payoff is absolutely worth it.

Book Review: Atmosphere by Taylor Jenkins Reid

 

Title: Atmosphere

By: Taylor Jenkins Reid

Genre: Fiction

Pages: 352

Release Date: June 3rd, 2025

Rating: ★★★★★

 

Summary from Goodreads:From the #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo and Daisy Jones & The Six comes an epic new novel set against the backdrop of the 1980s Space Shuttle program about the extraordinary lengths we go to live and love beyond our limits.
Joan Goodwin has been obsessed with the stars for as long as she can remember. Thoughtful and reserved, Joan is content with her life as a professor of physics and astronomy at Rice University and as aunt to her precocious niece, Frances. That is, until she comes across an advertisement seeking the first women scientists to join NASA’s Space Shuttle program. Suddenly, Joan burns to be one of the few people to go to space.
Selected from a pool of thousands of applicants in the summer of 1980, Joan begins training at Houston’s Johnson Space Center, alongside an exceptional group of fellow candidates: Top Gun pilot Hank Redmond and scientist John Griffin, who are kind and easy-going even when the stakes are highest; mission specialist Lydia Danes, who has worked too hard to play nice; warm-hearted Donna Fitzgerald, who is navigating her own secrets; and Vanessa Ford, the magnetic and mysterious aeronautical engineer, who can fix any engine and fly any plane.
As the new astronauts become unlikely friends and prepare for their first flights, Joan finds a passion and a love she never imagined. In this new light, Joan begins to question everything she thinks she knows about her place in the observable universe.
Then, in December of 1984, on mission STS-LR9, everything changes in an instant.
Fast-paced, thrilling, and emotional, Atmosphere is Taylor Jenkins Reid at her best: transporting readers to iconic times and places, with complex protagonists, telling a passionate and soaring story about the transformative power of love, this time among the stars.

 

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Review:This is my second Taylor Jenkins Reid book, and I’m still absolutely flabbergasted by her storytelling. Atmosphere was breathtaking from start to finish. I loved every part of it. I listened to the audiobook while grocery shopping (rookie mistake), and let’s just say it’s nearly impossible to hold back tears while picking out avocados. Emotionally rich, beautifully written, and unforgettable. TJR does it again.

ARC Review: And the River Drags Her Down by Jihyun Yun

 

Title: And the Ricer Drags Her Down

By: Jihyun Yun

Genre: Horror/Fantasy

Pages: 400

Release Date: October 2nd, 2025 

Rating: ★★★★☆

 

Summary from Goodreads:She has always known the rules – never resurrect anything larger than the palm of her hand, but that was before her sister died. A chilling, compulsive exploration of sisterhood, loss, and revenge.
"Yun beautifully captures the haunting of family myths in this slow-burn horror. Eerie and poignant, And The River Drags Her Down will sweep readers into its relentless current."- Trang Thanh Tran, New York Times bestselling author of She Is a Haunting
When her older sister is found mysteriously drowned in the river that cuts through their small coastal town, Soojin Han disregards every rule and uses her ancestral magic to bring Mirae back from the dead. At first, the sisters are overjoyed, reveling in late-night escapades and the miracle of being together again, but Mirae grows tired of hiding from the world. She becomes restless and hungry . . .
Driven by an insatiable desire to finish what she started in life, to unravel the truth that crushed her family so many years ago, Mirae is out for revenge.
When their town is engulfed by increasingly destructive rain and a series of harrowing, unusual deaths, Soojin is forced to reckon with the fact that perhaps the sister she brought back isn’t the one she knew.

 

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Review:This book had a haunting, almost Pet Sematary vibe that I was totally falling for. Soojin is a deeply relatable character, navigating intense grief and trauma, and her emotional unraveling is both raw and compelling. The atmosphere is chilling and immersive, pulling you in with its eerie beauty. While the ending didn’t quite land for me emotionally, the journey there was gripping and intense. A thrilling, emotionally charged read that blends horror and sorrow in all the right ways.

ARC Review: Murder in Retrograde by Greg Hickey

 

Title: Murder in Retrograde

By: Greg Hickey

Genre: Scifi/Mystery

Pages: 202

Release Date: August 25th, 2025 

Rating: ★★★★☆

 

Summary from Goodreads:A steadfast private detective. A case that would cover all his debts. When the first body drops, can he catch a killer before he’s cashed out?
In a litigious future America, detective Marcus Carver sticks to civil cases. When a space tech CEO wants him to investigate a business rival for illegal hydrocarbon combustion, Carver reluctantly agrees. But the case takes an explosive turn when the police find the target’s head of security murdered.
Determined to get to the bottom of things, Carver finds himself sucked into a morass of cyberpunk gangsters, cultish environmentalists and crooked cops. And when another body turns up, it’s clear this ruthless killer doesn’t intend to stop.
Can Carver crack the case before it blows up in his face?
Murder in Retrograde is a thrilling science fiction crime novel. If you like stories about dystopian systems and hard-boiled detectives battling corrupt institutions, then you’ll love Greg Hickey’s propulsive futuristic whodunit.

 

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Review:Murder in Retrograde by Greg Hickey is a sharp, fast paced blend of science fiction and crime noir. I loved following detective Marcus Carver through a dystopian future full of gangsters, environmental extremists, and crooked cops. The story balances gritty mystery with imaginative world building, keeping the tension high from start to finish. While there were a few moments that felt a bit dense, overall it’s a propulsive and cleverly constructed whodunit that fans of both sci fi and detective fiction will enjoy.

Received an advance reader copy in exchange for a fair review. 

Weekly Menu #622 And The Book Of The Week

 

This week, we’re heading to the vibrant heart of South America with a menu inspired by the bold, colorful flavors of Peru. Known for its fresh seafood, unique peppers, and world famous quinoa, Peruvian cuisine strikes a beautiful balance between comforting and adventurous. From the zesty brightness of ceviche to the smoky richness of pollo a la brasa, these dishes bring both high protein power and a delicious variety to the table.
My current read is Danielle L. Jensen’s A Curse Carved in Bone, a dark fantasy woven with curses, forbidden bargains, and just enough romance to keep the pages turning late into the night. As I built this week’s menu, I couldn’t help but draw little connections to the book’s atmosphere. Rustic meals that feel as grounding and hearty as the forest setting, yet still layered with spice and intrigue, much like the story itself.

WEEKLY MENU

Monday

Pollo a la Brasa with Quinoa Salad

Kids - Chicken Nugget Skewers and Rice

 

Tuesday

Grilled beef anticuchos with roasted sweet potatoes

Kids - Cheese Squares with Fries

 

Wednesday

Lomo Saltado with Brown Rice

Kids - Bacon with Rice and Carrots

 

Thursday

Quinoa and black bean solterito salad with Hard Boiled Eggs

Kids - Chips and Cheese

 

Friday

Grilled pork chops with rocoto pepper sauce and yucca fries

Kids - Pork Chops and Fries

 

Saturday

Aji de Gallina with White Rice

Kids - Chicken Soup and Rice

 

Sunday

Leftovers Night

Sunday Confessions #319

 

It’s that time again. Sunday Book Confessions, where I spill all the truths about my reading week: the highs, the lows, the books I couldn’t put down, and the ones that left me a little conflicted. Consider this my cozy little reading diary, complete with unfiltered thoughts and maybe a few guilty pleasures.

Sunday Confessions #318~Weekly Menu #621 And The Book Of The Week~ARC Review: The Dragon Wakes with Thunder by K.X. Song~Book Review: Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir~Re-read Thursday: We Were Liars by E. Lockhart~Fiction Friday: On Earth We're Briefly Gorgeous by Ocean Vuong

Weekly Menu #622 And The Book Of The Week~ARC Review: Murder in Retrograde by Greg Hickey~ARC Review: And the River Drags Her Down by Jihyun Yun~Book Review: Atmosphere by Taylor Jenkins Reid~Fantasy Friday: The Book That Wouldn't Burn by Mark Lawrence~Sunday Confessions #320

264/100 2025 Reading Challenge~110/217 in my Star Wars Legends challenge~18/20 2024 Goodreads Fantasy Nominees Reading Challenge

That wraps up this week’s confessions! Thanks for stopping by and sharing a little bookish space with me. Until next Sunday, may your TBR be kind and your current read keep you hooked. 📖✨