Persephone's Curse

 

Persephone's Curse

by Katrina Leno

Publication Date: December 2, 2025

Thank you @NetGalley and St. Martin Press/Wednesday Books for a copy of this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

The premise of this novel pulled me in from the synopsis. I'm a sucker for stories about mythology, so I was eager to read about four sisters descended from Persephone who can see ghosts. When one falls in love with the ghost and another banishes it, I thought this was going to be an amazing, one-sitting read for me.

In truth, getting into the story was difficult. The first 50% was riddled with more prose than dialogue, which dragged it down (for me). The author did a good job setting up the problems and creating backstory for the four sisters: Winnie, Evelyn, Clara, and Bernadette; however, it read more like an information dump at times, and there was more telling than showing. I'm also not sure what the character motivators were throughout, and I didn't connect with Henry at all. Aside from being a creep Evelyn couldn't outrun in her own bedroom, what quality about him made her love him? It was clear how much the sisters cared for each other and that each had their own 'quirk' that added to the storyline, but I felt that I was told this to set my expectations for the end, versus discovering it as the story unfolded.

I'm glad I kept coming back to the story, hoping that the next chapter would be the aha moment, which finally happened when Henry is sent to the Underworld (or so one assumes) and the sisters hide it from Evelyn, the sister who loves him. The second half of the book picks up; however, I would have liked to have more of the front half description evened out so there was more in the backend for consistency.

Overall, I rate it 3 Stars. The idea is great and that ending... I <3 that!

Making the Cut

Making the Cut

by Sophie Wiggins

🌟🌟🌟

Published July 28, 2025, by The Book Guild

Thank you @NetGalley for the eARC for my honest review.

The cover and synopses of this book drew me in right away. My daughter just got on point and is going into her final year of competitive dance, so I thought it would be a great relatable experience. The book is about a single mom who struggles after putting her two-year-old into ballet and being sucked into the world of dance: the costs, the joys, the drama, the tears, the competition... the pain. All for small rewards (if you are lucky). As the book progresses, it also highlights the price you pay when you are good: pettiness, parent drama/fights, marital problems, studio hierarchy, etc., and the emotional toll it takes on even the most sane of people.

I am a dance mom and had no idea what that world entailed until I was in it, and I have had many, many arguments with our studio and dance friends' parents about what is 'the norm' in the dance world. For anyone going into this blind, I 100% recommend the first 1/2 of this book as it absolutely highlights the costs, the feelings of guilt to not do something for your child, the sacrifices, and more than anything, the joy when they find happiness. The author did an amazing job at capturing the truth behind the performance, right down to the costs of the 'swag' dancers get from their own studio. In essence, every opportunity has a price tag, no matter how talented the dancer is. Every parent should question it and not allow their child to think they are going to be granted special privileges because of money.

It took a while for me to get into the different POV's from Lydia talking about her daughter to remembering her own crisis, and I'm still unsure how it all ties together. As these scenes unfolded, I would guess the author was trying to show that everyone has trauma and that every trauma can make someone do things they normally wouldn't--or that the character was capable of the extreme actions she took in the end because of the past trauma triggering her during the trauma her daughter went through. To be honest, I think the book was better without the flashbacks from Lydia.

All in all, I rate this as 3* because I really enjoyed the truth in Lydia's perspective as a dance mom, but I do think that the character development and overall plot can be worked on. The storyline turns very dark after the halfway mark, and I would recommend anyone who is triggered to tread carefully; however, it does reflect that no matter what we go through as a dance parent, the dancer is likely enduring their own issues--especially if they are good and dancing on a competitive level. The author was able to show that a parent's job is to safeguard their child and showcased that good can come out of separating yourself from a toxic environment.

I'd still recommend the first half to first-time dance parents--it's all true!!

Flutter Book Review

Flutter

by Melody Percario 

⭐⭐⭐

Thank you Netgalley and OCS Publishing for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

“Flutter” begins with the promise of a classic whodunit and quickly moves into territory far more complex than the synopsis suggests; however, the execution often falters. While the concept is intriguing, hinting at a world that would be an amazing series, the characters and narrative is difficult to connect with.

Despite the high stakes and the novel’s somber undercurrent, the protagonists are never quite believable. Their reactions to traumatic events are not at all how someone would respond e.g. finding people shot and then having a conversation with the killer like she met him on the street and isn’t scared? This tendency saps the tension from moments that should be gripping and immersive. That said, the villain of the story was intriguing and grew throughout the novel enough that I felt empathy for him, and I'd like to see how that is further developed.

The narrative, too, is bogged down. Rather than letting scenes unfold organically, the story frequently opts to tell rather than show, diminishing reader engagement and slowing the pace. This is made worse by the plot’s unlikely scenarios, such as a teenager being assigned an eighteen-year-old bodyguard who repeatedly leaves her unprotected—especially when a parent seems unfazed by these lapses. The romance between this so-called protector and Daphne also falls flat (for me).

The connections between events can feel illogical, with “A” not always leading convincingly to “B.” Greater attention to the logic of character motivations and reactions would lend the story a much-needed sense of realism and emotional depth. The last 20% or so leads me to believe that the sequel is one I would want to read, if only to see how Sebastian is developed.

Nevertheless, “Flutter” is not without merit. Its premise is promising, and the concluding chapters hint at a richer, more dynamic sequel. With more character development that focuses on emotional depth and believability, this could become the strong start to a series that its concept deserves.

LUX: OPPOSITION BOOK REVIEW

Opposition by Jennifer L. Armentrout

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


I found this series on the shelves of a local Chapters store, and I am glad I finally purchased it. Normally I shy away from alien stories because I sometimes picture ET (not the best way to get attached to characters) and don't want the story to be better than Roswell (one of my favorite shows in high school), but I am glad I went against my gut this time, and even upset that the story had to end in the first installment of this two-part book. That said, I think that the ending was perfect. Without giving away spoilers, it closes many loose ends and sets the end up in a way that allows the reader to imagine what "could" happen next for their favorite characters, which is always a great way to say goodbye and leave the world an author created with their readers. The second story, like a prequel, is about Dawson - all the unanswered questions that Katy and Daemon had about what happened to him explored. I usually don't like to go back to the beginning with new characters, but this was an exception. Highly recommend.



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LUX: CONSEQUENCES BOOK REVIEW

Consequences: Opal & Origin by Jennifer L. Armentrout

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


I started this series by chance after seeing the books on the shelf at the store. While I was lukewarm about the first two stories because they reminded me of Roswell, I have to say that the next two did not disappoint. I liked them even more than the start of the series. Perhaps because the storyline forked away from what I expected to happen, I was more invested at this point in the characters, or the characters' problems were so much bigger, I couldn't help but connect. But whatever the case, I finished this and started Opposition all in a day.

In the third and fourth books, we get to find out a lot about the aliens heritage, what makes Katy so special, and the oh-so-sweet protective (and sexy and dangerous and vulnerable) side of Daemon. While there is much heartbreak and a lot of rivalry - even between friends - these installments are gripping in the love story they weave, all the while keeping the suspense and mystery of what's going on in the world they are fighting to survive in clear. There were moments when I found myself holding my breath for the characters, and as a reader, there is nothing better than being that sucked into a great story. I'd recommend this to anyone.



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