No Fear Sock Knitting: A Book Review

Denise DeSantis is known for her excellent teaching style on YouTube when it comes to socks. She takes things slow, explains every detail, and provides a lot of encouragement on the way. Her new book absolutely reflects this as well, reaching a new audience of knitters that may not be on YouTube or can benefit from a written format. 

Denise's genius, patience, and creativity shines through in every chapter. She talks about materials needed, different methods of knitting socks, planning sizes and patterns, top down and toe up beginnings, how to knit different parts of a sock (including her popular shadow wrap heel instructions), how to finish and block, and several tips and tricks that will aid both new and experienced knitters. She also has eight beautiful sock patterns at the end. 

My favorite parts of this book are her shadow wrap heel instructions, her tricks on managing stripes, and her Helical Socks pattern, which I've made once using her YouTube video and plan to make again using this book. Besides having stellar content, the book is itself gorgeous. True to Denise's YouTube and Instagram name of EarthTonesGirl, the book's color palette focuses on earth tones and has beautiful photos of both socks and step-by-step techniques. What an incredible resource for all sock knitters, and one I highly recommend!

Thank you, David & Charles Publishing, for the review copy!

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!

Knitting Books Feature

We've all felt our inspiration dry up in knitting. But I've found knitting stitch books to be the perfect way to get new ideas and motivation for making something totally unique and captivating. Here are a couple books—and even a card deck—that may spark your inspiration!

Knitting Stitches Card Deck by Claire Crompton
I think having different knitting stitches in a card deck is genius! The cards are much more portable than a book and faster to flip through to gain ideas to enhance your knitting. The 52 color-coded cards are separated by type (eyelets, cables, texture, gansey, knit and purl, etc.) and have a large photo of the stitch on one side and instructions on the other. The deck also comes with a 23 page booklet on how to knit. So if you're either just starting out or looking to design your own projects, this card deck could be extremely helpful for you. I also think you could take out specific cards to use as a reference when following a pattern with a specific stitch. All in all, a very helpful and beautiful knitting card deck!

Cable Knitting Stitch Dictionary by Debbie Tomkies
I've recently been really inspired by cables, so this book drew me in right away with a compilation of 100 different cable stitch patterns. A lot of the cable stitches are new to me, and I love that the book includes full size swatch photos so you can really get a feel of how the cable pattern is going to look in real life. There is also a section in the back about how to work cables, how to follow charts, tips and tricks, even how to design your own cables, and more. I think this book is so valuable for knitters who really want to dive deeper into cables!

The Doodle Knit Directory by Jamie Lomax
It's no wonder this book is so popular! I love the appeal of making an accessory or garment that is totally unique to you by combining stripes of colorwork motifs. This book is so versatile to all knitters; no matter what you love making most, you can insert any of the motifs into what you're making. There are 200 beautiful motifs to choose from, organized by seasons. There's also sections on choosing colors and motifs, modifying patterns to add the motifs, colorwork tips, and pattern "recipes" to make your own unique doodle knit. I think this book could give new inspiration to knitters and help bring extra joy to knitting colorwork.

Thank you, David & Charles Publishing, for these review copies!

Charming Colorwork Socks: A Book Review

"Charming" is the exact word to describe this beautiful book! There are so many charming sock patterns, separated by theme: animals, flowers, food, the outdoors, and holidays. I love the October Halloween socks, the Vitamin C socks, and the Blooming Lavender Socks. I can't wait to make them!

The book itself is beautiful and well laid out. The charts are large and easy to read, and the instructions seem to be clear and to the point. I also love how there's colorwork tips and tricks as well. 

I've seen so many knitters use this book, so I'm very excited to have a copy. I've especially heard good things about Charlotte Stone's German short row heel, so I will update my thoughts when I try it. 

Overall: 5 stars

Thank you, Page Street Publishing, for this review copy!

We Redeemed the Rain: A Book Review

Ashely Dill is a MASTER at writing emotional, deep romances, which are my absolute favorite kind of romances to read. I love when characters come together to heal their trauma and become better people both individually and together. And I love when their love helps them view the world differently. It's so inspiring and heartwarming to read. This book has all of that, and it deeply touched my heart.

Love is patient and kind, and that's exactly the kind of romance that develops in this book. The characters are incredibly mature through very difficult times. But this romance also has a lightheartedness to it that had me snort-laughing at some parts. The beautiful love story will take you on a journey through all the emotions.

The cowboy vibes are PERFECT in this book too, and the writing is, of course, phenomenal. I was swept away and couldn't put it down! Highly recommend this beautiful romance. 

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

Thank you, Ashely Dill, for the arc!

Trigger/Content Warnings: child sexual assault, child abuse, PTSD, side character with chronic health issues, suicide attempt

A Sea of Unspoken Things: A Book Review

Okay, I read that in almost one sitting! I was so drawn in with the murder mystery, the mysterious and claustrophobic forest town, and all the secrets the characters kept. Adrienne Young’s writing never fails to captivate me, even when the plot is a bit slower. She really focuses on the atmosphere and the tension of secrets in this book, so don’t expect a lot of action or dialogue or focus on the romance. But nevertheless, it took me on a JOURNEY, and I couldn’t look away. Another win from Adrienne Young!

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

Thank you, Ballantine, for the arc!

Trigger/Content Warnings: fade to black, swearing, murder

The Fury of the Gods: A Book Review

The Viking vibes are perfection in this book. I felt very immersed in the world with the language and accuracy. And it felt good to spend time with the characters again! They have gone through so much in this series, so it was satisfying to see their endings and how they all work together.

However, the plot felt too slow. There wasn't enough tension overall in the first half, and I think it's because we have to wait for all the POVs to get in position for the final battle. I wanted more action leading up to that point. And I did get overwhelmed by the big paragraphs of fighting descriptions. I couldn't easily follow along with the action.

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

Thank you, Orbit, for the arc!

Trigger/Content Warnings: fighting violence and death, gore, torture, fade to black

Fledgling: A Book Review

The futuristic dystopian world was so interesting. I felt immersed in the world once I understood all the politics and futuristic technology.

I also loved all the POVs. There wasn't a single POV that I had to trudge through. Each character had so much going on for them, and I LOVE when there's a villain POV.

The plot was engaging and tense! Once I picked it up, I had a hard time putting it down. The story sets up for an interesting sequel.

However, I did have some dislikes. The writing had some distracting quirks in its style as well as grammar, and one sentence near the end ruined my whole mood with the story. I'm still angry about what happened in that sentence, and don't understand why it had to happen. What was the point?

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

Thank you, Penguin Teen, for the arc!

Trigger/Content Warnings: one fade to black, violence and murder, torture