Knitting Books Feature

A huge thank you to David & Charles Publishing for all of these knitting books to review!

Brioche Knitting Workshop by Lavanya Patricella

I've always wanted to try knitting brioche, but it looks intimidating and difficult. Having a large, full color book of instructions is the perfect way to learn and ease into it. There's a whole section of brioche basics, including choosing colors, the basic stitches, increasing, decreasing, variations, and troubleshooting. Then there's fifteen beautiful patterns organized from easy to more advanced to help you become confident. This book has everything you need to become proficient in brioche!

Knit a Box of Socks by Julie Ann Lebouthillier

This book of twenty four sock knitting patterns is pure joy. The colors are bright, the patterns unique and playful, and there really is a variety of different construction methods and yarn weights. Some patterns have cables, or colorwork, or fades, or stitch texture. I don't think you could get bored with knitting any of these socks! 

Knit Modern Scandi Sweaters by Marita Clementz

I feel very drawn to colorful, floral colorwork sweaters, so I was excited for this book! However, the twelve sweater patterns feel like repeats of each other with similar constructions, colorwork patterns (just the motifs are changed), and bright colors. I wanted more variety. "Modern" also doesn't feel like the right word to describe these sweaters—they feel playful and childlike. I'm also disappointed that the patterns aren't size inclusive with the biggest finished chest circumference at 53 inches. So I can't in good conscience recommend this book.

Broken Souls and Bones: A Book Review

A Viking romantasy? Say no more. I love romance, I love Vikings, and I enjoyed LJ Andrews' Ever King series, so I admittedly had some higher expectations for this one. And while I was overall entertained, I don't think this book was memorable or unique in comparison other romantasies. I think I've read this story several different times in different books, and the characters felt cookie cutter. The magic system was cool, but I don't feel like I have a good grasp on it. A lot of things confused me, and I couldn't bother myself with trying to figure out the details. 

I will say that I enjoyed the forbidden romance aspect, and the last couple chapters had me reeling with all the reveals. I think for these reasons I'll pick up the second book to see where the story goes.

Writing: 4
Plot: 3
Characters: 3

Setting: 3

Personal Enjoyment: 3
Overall: 3

Thank you, Berkley, for the arc!

Content: several open door

The Knight and the Moth: A Book Review

I always know Rachel Gillig's books are going to DELIVER when it comes to beautiful writing and stunning atmospheric vibes. I was swept in right away with the drowning, dreaming, secrets, and a knight love interest. There's so much to explore in the plot and characters and setting, and Rachel Gillig always does an amazing job with letting it unfold naturally and with a lot of tension. 

I love a story that has the main character learning more about herself and unearthing secrets and lies. Her character journey feels so heartfelt, and I also love how her relationship with the knight develops. And the gargoyle?? He's my favorite character of the whole thing. I loved his humor, accidental wisdom, and constant loyalty.

The ending was a little predictable for me (and maybe even too easy?) but I still very much enjoyed reading. I'm completely captivated on where the story is going. I can't wait to read the next book!

Writing Aesthetic/Style: 5
Plot/Movement: 5
Character Development: 5
Overall: 5

Thank you, Orbit, for the arc!

Content: one open door

A Letter from the Lonesome Shore: A Book Review

I'm convinced there's no other story or world like the one in this Sunken Archive duology. It's so incredibly unique, and it piqued my imagination every time I sat down to read. The epistolary format also lends itself to the uniqueness, and Sylvie Cathrall does a magnificent job relaying information and tension through something as disjointed as letter writing. Her writing is enchanting, and I will be reading everything she publishes just for the pure imaginative joy of it. 

This book has a lot of secrets and world building to explain, and it eventually gets the job done. The first half is a little slow, focusing on the relationship of E. and Henerey the most. I felt like the dialogue got really clunky and pompous here, which drew me out of the story. But the second half really picked up and I was stunned at all the reveals.

I had no idea what direction this book would take, but I truly enjoyed the ride. The ending was a perfect blend of heartwarming and speculation, which is my favorite. I'll be thinking about the world building and the ending for a long time. Both are masterfully conceived and unlike anything I've ever read. Another win for cozy-fantasy lovers!

Writing Aesthetic/Style: 5
Plot/Movement: 4
Character Development: 4
Overall: 4

Thank you, Orbit, for the arc!

Content: kisses

Wild Reverence: A Book Review

Another magical book from Rebecca Ross! Her writing is, of course, lyrical and stunning, with every sentence its own masterpiece. I love to savor her books because the writing and story deserve to be admired and fully taken in. Reading slowly worked well for this book too, because there's a lot of details to remember and absorb. 

All elements in this book are perfection. The world and magic are stunningly detailed and vivid. The story feels reminiscent of a mythical fairytale. I loved the subtle ties to the Divine Rivals book. And I especially loved Matilda and Vincent as characters. Their love story is one for the ages. 

However, it did feel slow at parts. For most of it, I felt that it was missing tension and urgency. I just wasn’t super drawn to pick it up, and it was easy to put down. But still loved it when I did read, and I still think this book is very worthy of five stars!

Writing Aesthetic/Style: 5
Plot/Movement: 4
Character Development: 5
Overall: 5

Thank you, Saturday Books, for the arc!

Content: 2-3 vague open door

A Dance of Lies: A Book Review

I loved this one!! I loved the dancing with chronic pain aspects, which really made me want to root for the main character, Vasalie. I also loved the secret spying and all the tension that comes with that. There's a lot of fantastic character growth too, with Vasalie questioning everything she wants and needs, and how those aligns with her personal morals and loyalty. I also think the politics and world building were so detailed and fit well with the story. And oh my goodness, THAT ENDING? I need book two asap. 

There were some minor annoyances for me in this book, mainly with the info dumping, a middle that dragged a little, and some small frustrating moments with Vasalie. But overall, I enjoyed this book so much (especially the last 30%), that it deserves all the stars!

Writing Aesthetic/Style: 4.5
Plot/Movement: 5
Character Development: 5
Overall: 5

Thank you, Del Rey, for the arc!

Content: kissing

Code Word Romance: A Book Review

This cute, suspenseful romance was highly entertaining! I enjoyed the decoy and bodyguard romance plot because it added a lot of tension that felt different than other regular romcoms. There's lots of humor mixed in with the tension too, making it easily bingeable. And the Italian setting brings an extra layer of interest.

However, the main character was a bit too silly for me sometimes, drawing me out of the story long enough for me to roll my eyes. There were also random subplot aspects and characters that didn’t make a ton of sense for the story. (Like, what is up with her weird roommate?)

Overall, I'd say don't expect a lot from this romance. But if you're looking for something fun, quick, and easy to read, this is a good pick!

Writing Aesthetic/Style: 4
Plot/Movement: 4
Character Development: 3
Overall: 4

Thank you, Berkley, for the arc!

Content: 2 vague open door scenes

Promise Me Sunshine: A Book Review

Wow, I wasn't expecting to love this book as much as I did. Cara Bastone strikes the perfect balance in romance for me: there's humor and romcom vibes, but also deeply personal growth with both heavy and heartwarming moments. I love a romance that can make me laugh and cry in the same chapter.

The main character in this book is unique, quirky, and funny, but also emotionally intelligent and aware. I loved her journey through grief with Miles’s help. I think their relationship developed realistically with not instantly falling for each other, but instead relying on each other through their friendship and becoming closer and closer. We don't all need (or have resources for) a therapist to help us through grief. Sometimes the most important, impactful people in our lives are friends and loved ones. This book is truly a new favorite for me because it felt so meaningful and realistic. 

Writing Aesthetic/Style: 5
Plot/Movement: 5
Character Development: 5
Overall: 5

Thank you, Random House, for the arc!

Content: open door (one detailed and the rest vague)

Patty Lyons' Knitting Bag of Tricks & Workbook: Books Review

Patty Lyons' collection of her Knitting Bag of Tricks may be the most useful knitting technique books I will ever find. Her first book of "over 70 sanity saving hacks for better knitting" is chock full of tips to make your knitting look cleaner and function better. What I love about Patty Lyons is that she explains the why behind all of these techniques so that you can fully grasp their usefulness and remember them when you need them. 

The layout of the book is beautiful. There's lots of color illustrations throughout the book to add clarity and visual interest. The content is also organized into different sections, making it easy to flip through and find exactly what you need. Truly, this book is a must-have for all knitters.

The Official Workbook is a great addition to this series. The first book doesn't have a lot of room for adding your own notes or working out maths. The workbook has lots of space for writing down observations, recording your needle stash, and places to tape in pictures of your swatches. There's also lots of exercises to help you practice the techniques in Knitting Bag of Tricks.  It's such a valuable workbook for really practicing and becoming comfortable with all of Patty Lyons' hacks. That being said, you need the Knitting Bag of Tricks book for the workbook to make sense.

All in all, a fabulous couple of books to have in your knitting book collection. I guarantee you'll find something useful and mind-blowing in these books!

Thank you, David & Charles, for the review copies!

Rebel Witch: A Book Review

This is such a great continuation of the series! I really enjoyed the politics of the two enemy sides fighting for power, with Rune and Gideon caught in the middle of it. It had great tension, and I was entertained all the way through. 

I loved seeing Rune and Gideon's relationship grow too. They both have some great character growth separately that helps them become closer together. However, they stayed enemies for a little too long in this book for me. I wanted them to trust each other a lot sooner than they did. 

Overall, this is such a great, witchy duology. I'm so glad I read it! I think so many people will love this conclusion.

Writing Aesthetic/Style: 5
Plot/Movement: 4
Character Development: 4
Overall: 4

Thank you, Wednesday Books, for the arc!

Content: one open door scene

Immortal: A Book Review

Sue Lynn Tan's writing is utterly enchanting and rich—perfect for tales based on mythology and lore. I love being immersed in her fairytale worlds because they always feel fast paced to me, but have deep introspection from the characters and unique love stories. Immortal is no different! I loved the twists and turns in the plot that make the story feel original and fresh. I also loved the romance. The love story was not what I was expecting at all. I was completely swept away.

I will say that Sue Lynn Tan's writing style may make you feel a bit removed from the characters. I feel like her writing has the same vibes as the Grimm brothers, or other classic fairytales or myths. I think that's maybe why her books can be a miss for some people. But for me, her writing feels nostalgic. I loved reading old fairytales and myths as a kid, and Immortal gave me that same nostalgic feeling but with her own spin on it (and more romance!). 

Writing Aesthetic/Style: 5
Plot/Movement: 5
Character Development: 5
Overall: 5

Thank you, Harper Voyager, for the arc!

Content Warnings: fade to black

A Heart Devoted: A Book Review

I absolutely loved spending more time with my lovelies Tristian and Isolde, even if I was stressed and angry at what they had to go through. Can't they just live in perfect peace and happiness for the rest of their lives?! (I know, I know. That's not how life works.) Nichole Van is a master in making you feel all the emotions with everything she writes. 

The second half of this book truly shines. I love how everything turned out, and I never saw the plot twist coming. This book made me love Tristian and Isolde even more, if that was possible. It's such a beautiful story continuation.

I will say that I wondered if A Heart Sufficient needed a sequel. Tristian and Isolde's story wraps up perfectly in that book, and I love leaving that ending where it's at. However, A Heart Devoted was nice to just spend time with characters I love and see them overcame challenges in their new life.

Writing Aesthetic/Style: 5
Plot/Movement: 5
Character Development: 5
Overall: 5

Thank you, Nichole Van, for the arc!

Trigger/Content Warnings: fade to black

Joyful Colorwork Socks: A Book Review

Now THIS is a knitting book that makes me smile. Every pattern is utterly unique, well thought out, and niche. There is a pattern for every single knitter in here! The patterns are organized by section: pets, garden, less-popular holidays, parties, and hobbies (think chess, camping, fashion, etc.). The colorwork charts are very clear and easy to follow, and you rarely have to catch floats! Every pattern looks lovely, interesting, and entertaining to knit.

I also love this book because Charlotte has whole sections on catching floats, yarn and color combos, how to beat second sock syndrome, and how to design your very own colorwork socks! Her wealth of knowledge is so valuable to those of us who love beautiful and interesting socks. 

I knit the Birthday Cupcake socks from this book, and I loved the process so much. The colorwork was addicting and looks stunning. I can't wait to make more patterns from this book!

Thank you, Page Street, for the review copy!