May 2026 Recommendations

A hauntingly original and gripping horror story!

What can I say about The Horror Writer’s Nightmare? It completely surprised me in the best way.

The story follows Eddie, a famous writer who loses his muse—an eerie, demon-haunted baby blanket that inspires his writing. His philosophy is simple: write the nightmare, get paid, and repeat. But when the blanket goes missing, everything begins to unravel.

Enter Martha, a down-on-her-luck waitress who unknowingly takes the demon blanket… and with it, inherits terrifying nightmares and lost days that push her to the brink. Desperate, she seeks out Eddie, and together they decide to rid themselves of the cursed object once and for all. Of course, nothing goes quite to plan.

I was immediately drawn into the world of Martha and Eddie. Both characters felt real, flawed, and genuinely good at heart, which made it easy to root for them; not just individually, but together (and yes, I was secretly hoping for a little romance too!).

The twists and turns kept me hooked, and while I expected horror, what I got was so much more. The plot went in directions I didn’t anticipate, and even though I found myself wishing for a happy-ever-after, the journey was absolutely worth it.

The pacing starts off steady but builds brilliantly as the horror intensifies. By the time Eddie and Martha make their final decision, I was racing through the pages, completely invested and needing to know how it would end.

Did I love it? Absolutely. Will I read more of Brendan’s work? Without a doubt.

This was an entertaining, gripping, and memorable read that I highly recommend.

I received an ARC copy of this book, and my review is honest and based solely on my enjoyment of the story.

The Irish Slaves: Slavery, Indenture and Contract Labour Among Irish Immigrants by Rhetta Akamatsu was a fascinating and highly educational read. The book explores a difficult and often overlooked chapter of history, examining the suffering, resilience, and harsh realities faced by many Irish people during this period. It is clear that the author put a great deal of research into the subject, and the writing makes the historical events feel vivid and meaningful.

The inclusion of personal accounts and historical perspectives adds depth and emotion, helping the reader connect with the people behind the history. Rather than feeling dry or overly academic, the book presents its information in a way that is engaging and easy to follow.

While there is the occasional typo, these were minor issues that did not take away from the overall experience. This was an absorbing and thought-provoking book that shines light on a darker side of history. I would definitely recommend it to readers who enjoy historical nonfiction and want to learn more about lesser-known stories from the past.

I went into this book with very few expectations and came away genuinely pleased. It was an easy, engaging read that pulled me in quickly, and while the world-building wasn’t as detailed as I might usually prefer, I could still get a clear sense of the setting and stakes. Given the shorter length, it makes sense that some elements weren’t as deeply explored, and I’m hopeful the next in the series will expand on the world even further because there’s definitely a strong foundation here.

The enemies-to-lovers dynamic was a real highlight for me; it’s always a favourite trope, and this book delivered it in a really satisfying way. The Fiend Prince may not fit the typical mold of a male main character, but he absolutely carried that energy, which is a testament to the author’s writing. Amarylla was also a very likeable protagonist. You could see the beginnings of a strong FMC in her, and while her character depth wasn’t fully fleshed out (again, likely due to the book’s length), I still found myself rooting for her throughout.

There were moments in the story — particularly involving the king — that genuinely shocked me with their cruelty, and they did exactly what they were meant to do; make me hate him. The pacing did speed up toward the end, and it felt like the story wrapped a little too quickly, but I still thoroughly enjoyed the journey. It’s one of those books I can look back on fondly, especially because it offered a slightly different twist on familiar plot line. I’m definitely interested in reading the next book in the series by the author.