Book Review: Mestra by Madeline Miller

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Rating: ★★★★
Audience: Mythology Short Story
Length: 65 pages
Author: Madeline Miller
Publisher: Ecco Books
Release Date: September 29th, 2026
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

A brilliant new short story from the #1 New York Times bestselling author Madeline Miller—her first new work of fiction since the publication of Circe—that vibrantly reimagines the powerful and forgotten myth of Mestra.

A cursed father, a gifted daughter

Mestra, daughter of the King of Thessaly, is granted a unique gift by Poseidon: the ability to transform into any being she can imagine.

Her father, on the other hand, is cursed: As punishment for disrespecting the goddess Demeter, he is in possession of an unnatural, insatiable hunger.

Devoted Mestra suggests using her new gift to help her father. But if his hunger is bottomless, how much will he take from her? Soon she must decide: Will she keep helping her father survive, or finally break free?

A jewel-like tale of human fallibility, Mestra confirms Madeline Miller as our high priestess of mythology.

Thank you Ecco Books for the gifted copy.

A SHORT REVIEW.

For a short book. I don’t have a lot to say about this one.

If you’re curious about the lore of Mestra from Greek mythology I think you will like this because it does provide her history. Anything I looked up online after basically had the same story so from a learning stand point it provides that information. But otherwise it is not an expansion or reimaging of Mestra’s tale.

It genuinely clocks in at 65 pages so it would be a quick read if you’re interested.

Overall audience notes;

  • Mythology short story
  • Language: none
  • Romance: none
  • Violence: mild
  • Content warnings: mention/implied sexual assault

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Monthly Reading Wrap-Up: October 2026

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How are we at the last three months of the year??

  • [Short Story] Mestra by Madeline Miller
  • Princess Academy (Princess Academy #1) by Shannon Hale
  • Golden Flight (The Keeper’s Records of Revolution #2) by S.K. Ali
  • Second Down and Second Chances (River Foxes #2) by Leah Dobrinska
  • Rock Paper Scissors by Alice Feeney
  • [Reread] House of Flame and Shadow (Crescent City #3) by Sarah J. Maas
  • [ARC] The Embers That Remain (Flint Hills #2) by Jordan Abitz
  • Autumn Kissed (Falling for Autumn) by Deborah M. Hathaway
  • [ALC] Unapologetic Love Story by Elle McNicoll
  • [ARC] The Land That Binds Us (Marien Vineyard #1) by K. Sinko
  • The False Vow (The Weaver Bride #2) by Lydia Gregovic
  • Hollywood, Ending by John Green
  • [Novella] The Mirror of Infinite Endings (Once Upon a Broken Heart #3.5) by Stephanie Garber
  • [ALC] It’s Beginning To Look A Lot Like Murder (Kiss, Merry, Kill #2) by Ally Carter
  • [Novella] Unbound (Bound & Unbound #2) by Ali Hazelwood
  • After We Fall (Shelter & Sky #2) by Deborah Clack
  • [ARC] For Ever More (Never Ever After #2) by Sue Lynn Tan
  • Blightfall (Riftwake #1) by Brandon Sanderson by Janci Patterson
  • Let’s Kiss and Tell by Joss Richard
  • Victorious (Villains #3) by V.E. Scwab
  • [Reread] Faking Christmas (Christmas Escape) by Cindy Steel
  • The Shadows That Listen (Angel Ruin #1) by Louisa Carmody
  • [ARC/Graphic Novel] The Blind Prince Volume 1 by Cozycroww
  • The Washwoman at the River’s End (The Curse of the Fates #1) by Megan Shade
  • By the Flames of Her Fury (The Veridian Empire #4) by V.B. Lacey
  • Heirs of Infamy by Kyla Zhao
  • The Slantwise Histories by Alix E. Harrow
  • One Moore Time by Mariana Zapata
  • If Not You by Ellen O’Clover
  • [ARC/ALC] Mortal Things (Mortal Things #1) by Marie Lu
  • Feels Like Home by Courtney Walsh
  • Reap & Sow (Reap & Sow #1) by Charlotte B. Plumb
  • [Non-fiction] How to Keep House While Drowning by KC Davis
  • A Court of Splintered Harmony (ACOTAR #6) by Sarah J. Maas
  • Free Falling (Sweetwater Peak #2) by Lyla Sage
  • Escape Me (Shatter Me: Series Two #3) by Tahereh Mafi
  • [ARC/ALC] Defy the Dusk (The Sundering Duet #1) by Danielle L. Jensen
  • Dracula by Bram Stoker
  • Bad in Bed by Ali Hazelwood
  • [ARC] Take Me Home (Honey Badger Creek #1) by Leah Brunner

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Book Review: Die for Me by Shirlene Obuobi

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Rating: ★★★★
Audience: Paranormal Romance
Length: 416 pages
Author: Shirlene Obuobi
Publisher: Penguin Books
Release Date: July 14th, 2026
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Sean’s not in the market for love. The only female, let alone Black, interventional cardiologist at her hospital, she’s watched too many of her male colleagues divorce their first wives to marry younger models-and then there’s the abusive relationship she’s spent the better part of her early 30s healing from. Her passions are reserved for her best friend, her goddaughter, and her job.

Then she meets Julian. Brooding, beautiful and eleven years her junior. In A bad idea.

Julian pursues her in a way that sets off alarm bells in her mind, but she finds herself unable to resist their undeniable chemistry-even starts fantasizing about him in dreams that feel altogether too real. They also have a lot in common despite their age gap. So, to hell with If men can date younger, why can’t she? But the more Sean gets to know him, the more impossible Julian He has a depth and sorrow to him that’s beyond his years, and sometimes there’s a look in his eyes that’s less than human, and leaves her feeling more like prey. Plus, Sean herself has been exhibiting odd symptoms-memory lapses, a lack of restraint that’s unlike her, persistent exhaustion-that all trace back to Julian, making Sean feeling more than a little afraid. Who-or what-is she falling, irrevocably, in love with?

THIS WAS *SOMETHING.*

This was a read purely decided upon because a friend recommended it and I said sure why not??

I really want to tell you what is happening in this book but I honestly think that would take away from it. It’s not clear in the synopsis and I like that. Just know that when the reveals came out I loved it and thought it was unique and helped me enjoy the overall story even more.

My main issue was the lust factor. I know it plays into the plot (with reasoning) but it’s not something I love in romance books. That was my only standout issue though. Anything else was minor enough that I don’t even remember at this point.

I liked all of the medical content (I believe the author is a doctor in real life so love that even more). It was woven in well with the story line and added another complex angle. The romance grew on me and I think the way everything came together worked for me. It all made sense and wrapped things up well. Not mad I read this at all and perfect for the autumn season!

Overall audience notes:

  • Paranormal Romance
  • Language: moderate+
  • Romance: lust/innuendo throughout; multiple open door
  • Violence: moderate – high
  • Content warnings: loss of life, discussions of losing patients, miscarriage (recounted) but very much on page with complications, previous emotionally abusive relationship, mass shooting

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Book Review: Red Tempest Brother (The Winter Sea #3) by H.M. Long

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Rating: ★★★
Audience: Fantasy Romance
Length: 409 pages
Author: H.M. Long
Publisher: Titan Books
Release Date: July 8th, 2025
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

The epic naval fantasy trilogy concludes, as Sam, Mary and Benedict play a deadly game of war and espionage on the high-seas. Perfect for fans of pirate-infested waters, magical bestiaries and battling empires, by authors such as Adrienne Young, L. J. Andrews and Naomi Novik.

In the wake of the events of Black Tide Son, Hart flees into pirate-infested waters to shelter on the island where former rogue James Demery and the Fleetbreaker, Anne Firth, now rule.

Reeling from their discoveries about the truths of the Mereish-Aeadine war, Mary and Sam hover on the precipice of a terrible, world-altering choice – they can stay silent and maintain their good names, or they can speak out, and risk igniting total war across the Winter Sea.

Meanwhile, Benedict captains The Red Tempest, a lawless ship of deserters and corrupted mages in search of an Usti spy with incendiary stolen documents. Benedict is determined to make the truth known, consequences be damned.

As rumours spread of a new Ghistwold sprouting in the Mereish South Isles, May and Sam sail once more into intrigue, espionage and an ocean on the brink of exploding into conflict. They must chart a course toward lasting, final peace, at the heart of the age-old battle for power upon the Winter Seas.

I DON’T KNOW Y’ALL.

I remember liking the first two books in this series but not with an overwhelming sense of having to pick up book three ASAP. I’ve still been looking forward to RTB though and feel like I’ve been disappointed. I can’t decide if that’s because of my mood or this just wasn’t that great of a conclusion.

The plot was fairly rinse and repeat. Run over here, try to capture someone, get in a bind, get out, and do it again. All waiting for the final showdown.

And this also reminds me that I don’t recommend the audiobook for this one. With only one narrator for three POV’s, let me tell y’all, I got so lost trying to figure out which male POV (of twin brothers mind you) I was in and that threw me off multiple times.

Not the ending I was hoping for, maybe I’ll read more from this author?

Overall audience notes:

  • Fantasy + Romance
  • Language: mild
  • Romance: closed door
  • Violence: moderate

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