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What happens when a scatterbrained witch accidentally summons a ridiculously attractive demon? Apparently, you get a quirky, magical romance that's perfect for fall! 🍂🔮 Today I'm reviewing The Witch Fix by Kennedy Rhodes, a fun, witchy paranormal romance filled with magical mishaps, a charming demon love interest, and a little supernatural chaos. Meet Ava, a witch who runs a coffee shop, struggles to discover her magical specialty, and has a habit of forgetting just about everything. When a mysterious spellbook leads her to summon Soren, a surprisingly charming demon, things take an unexpected turn. And while I had a genuinely good time with this book—it even helped pull me out of a reading slump—I definitely had some issues with Ava's characterization. Her forgetfulness felt exaggerated at the beginning, only to practically disappear as the story progressed. I also struggled to connect with her initial relationship. But Ava and Soren? Now that's a different story! Their dynamic was cute, funny, and surprisingly wholesome. I also enjoyed the magical worldbuilding, particularly the ley lines, generational magic, and how the larger plot developed. Was it a perfect read? Not quite. But was it entertaining, quick, and full of witchy autumn vibes? Absolutely! 🎧 Tune in for my spoiler-free review as I discuss the romance, character development, magical worldbuilding, pacing, and why The Witch Fix is a fun recommendation for readers who love cozy, witchy paranormal romances. ✨ ARC Disclosure: Thank you to Ride on the Stars for providing me with an advance review copy! Follow on Spotify for more paranormal romance, fantasy, romantasy, witchy reads, and spoiler-free book reviews from Cyn's Workshop! #TheWitchFix #KennedyRhodes #WitchyRomance #ParanormalRomance #BookReviewPodcast

September was another slower reading month, but you know what? I'm perfectly okay with that! 📚✨ Between writing my next book, working through another round of manuscript edits, and juggling everyday life, I finished 10 books this September. And while I didn't read as much as I originally hoped, I discovered some incredible stories along the way! This month was packed with fantasy, romantasy, dystopian fiction, gothic horror, witchy romance, and magical adventures—and there were definitely some surprises! 🔥 The biggest highlights? For Whom the Belle Tolls completely blew me away with its humor, emotional depth, and surprisingly wonderful romance. Five stars! Meanwhile, Season of Storms reminded me why I fell in love with The Witcher universe in the first place. I also loved Survival Show, a dystopian singing competition with major Hunger Games vibes and an incredible audiobook production. The Dragon Wakes with Thunder delivered fantastic character growth and a bittersweet romantic journey, while All the Murmuring Bones captivated me with its haunting gothic atmosphere and dangerous mermaid mythology. And can we talk about The Sunbearer Trials? Mexican mythology, queer representation, deadly competition, and an ending that left me desperate for the sequel? YES, PLEASE! 🌞 Of course, not everything was a five-star read. Missing Girls and Lost Boys had compelling dystopian elements but an underdeveloped romance, The Knave and the Moon didn't quite live up to my expectations, and The Witch Fix was a fun, quick read with some frustrating characterization. 🎧 Tune in for my September Reading Wrap-Up as I discuss all 10 books, share my ratings and spoiler-free thoughts, celebrate my favorite reads, and talk about why sometimes reading less is perfectly fine—especially when you're busy writing your own stories! Follow on Spotify for more monthly reading wrap-ups, fantasy and sci-fi reviews, romantasy recommendations, gothic fiction, and all things bookish from Cyn's Workshop! #SeptemberReadingWrapUp #BookReviews #FantasyBooks #ReadingWrapUp #BookPodcast

Today I’m reviewing An Education in Malice by S. T. Gibson, and this book was absolutely intoxicating. 🩸🥀 Give me sapphic vampires, dark academia, obsession, and a Carmilla-inspired story, and apparently I am very easy to please. Set within the insular world of academia, An Education in Malice delivers a sensual, gothic atmosphere alongside its complicated relationships and vampiric elements. But what completely sold me was Gibson’s writing. “Sensual” really is the perfect word for it—the prose gets under your skin and makes the entire reading experience feel lush, intimate, and a little dangerous. And I absolutely devoured it. This was one of those books I finished so quickly that afterward I needed time to actually process everything I'd just read before I could form coherent thoughts about it. 😂 🎧 Tune in for my spoiler-free review as I dive into the sapphic romance, vampires, Carmilla inspiration, dark academia atmosphere, characters, and S. T. Gibson’s deliciously intoxicating prose—and why this became such an incredible read for me. Follow on Spotify for more sapphic fantasy, gothic fiction, vampire books, dark academia, and spoiler-free book reviews from Cyn’s Workshop! #AnEducationInMalice #STGibson #SapphicBooks #DarkAcademia #VampireBooks

Today I’m reviewing The Lure of Wolves and Whispers, and this fantasy completely surprised me! 🐺🖤 What initially feels like a familiar deadly-competition story quickly becomes something much bigger, with rebellion, dangerous trials, political intrigue, family, betrayal, and plenty of romantic tension. At the center of the story is Maeve, who enters the competition not because she dreams of winning a prince, but because of a deal with the Whisperers. Her real mission? Survive the trials and get close enough to kill the king. Except surviving is much easier said than done. I really enjoyed watching Maeve grow throughout the story, especially as her relationships with Wolf and Talon developed. The chemistry and tension with Wolf worked for me, while Maeve and Talon’s bond brought another emotional layer to the story. And then there were some developments I genuinely did not see coming. 😭 The story also plays with expectations surrounding who the real villain is. You might have your suspicions, but discovering the full extent of what’s actually happening added so much to the payoff and left me incredibly curious about where the sequel will go. 🎧 Tune in for my spoiler-free review as I talk about the deadly competition, Maeve’s character development, romance, rebellion, twists, villains, and why The Lure of Wolves and Whispers left me ready for book two. Follow on Spotify for more fantasy, romantasy, dystopian reads, monthly wrap-ups, and spoiler-free book reviews from Cyn’s Workshop! #TheLureOfWolvesAndWhispers #FantasyBooks #Romantasy #BookReview #BookPodcast

Today I’m reviewing Blood Over Bright Haven by M. L. Wang, and I genuinely have no notes. This book was incredible. It gave me everything I want from fantasy: compelling characters, fascinating worldbuilding, a unique magic system, and themes that gave me so much to think about long after I finished reading. One of my favorite aspects is the way science, physics, mathematics, and magic work together. Magic essentially feels like coding—you have calculations, written spells, and a system with actual structure behind it. But that incredible worldbuilding is only the beginning. M. L. Wang uses this story to dig into classism, colonialism, sexism, religion, institutional power, and who gets access to knowledge. There are so many layers to unpack that our Fantasy Fanatics book club actually went overtime because we couldn't stop discussing it. And then there’s that ending. 💔 It’s powerful, bittersweet, and exactly the kind of conclusion that sticks with me. Watching the story bring its larger themes together while challenging the systems its characters have been fighting against made the payoff incredibly satisfying. 🎧 Tune in for my spoiler-free review as I dive into the magic system, characters, worldbuilding, social commentary, philosophical and religious themes, and why Blood Over Bright Haven absolutely blew me away. Perfection. No notes. Go read it. 📚✨ Follow on Spotify for more fantasy, sci-fi, book club reads, monthly wrap-ups, and spoiler-free book reviews from Cyn’s Workshop! #BloodOverBrightHaven #MLWang #FantasyBooks #BookReview #FantasyReads

Today I’m reviewing A Feather So Black by Lyra Selene, and this was one of those fantasy books that completely consumed me. I was physically reading it whenever I could—and switching to the audiobook whenever life forced me to put the book down. 🖤🦢 Blending fae mythology with Swan Maiden folklore and shades of The Swan Princess and The Twelve Dancing Princesses, the story follows Fia as she ventures into the dangerous realm of Tír na nÓg in search of a missing princess. But what really made this book work for me was Fia herself. Her journey isn't simply about romance or rescuing someone else; it's about learning to love and choose herself before she can truly open herself up to loving someone else. And then there are the relationships. 👀 Between a deliciously brooding fae prince, complicated feelings, jealousy, longing, and characters I absolutely loved to hate, I was INVESTED. Add gorgeous prose, an immersive story that unfolds over months, and an ending that immediately made me want the next book, and this became one of my standout reads. 🎧 Tune in for my spoiler-free review as I talk about Fia's character growth, the romance, Celtic-inspired mythology, fae worldbuilding, gorgeous writing, and why I couldn't stop reading—or listening to—A Feather So Black. Follow on Spotify for more fantasy, romantasy, fae books, mythology-inspired reads, and spoiler-free book reviews from Cyn’s Workshop! #AFeatherSoBlack #LyraSelene #FaeFantasy #Romantasy #BookReviewPodcast

Today I’m reviewing Missing Girls and Lost Boys by H. Elliott, a dark reimagining of Peter Pan that takes the familiar story of missing children and transforms it into something much more sinister. 🔪🖤 This one plays with the mythology of Peter Pan, Wendy, the Lost Boys, and Neverland through a darker lens, blending fantasy with mystery and horror elements. Instead of the whimsical Neverland we grew up with, we get a story built around disappearances, murder, trauma, and the question of what really happened to all those missing girls and lost boys. What really caught my attention was the concept and the way the novel twists pieces of the original Peter Pan story into something recognizable but decidedly more disturbing. There’s a lot happening here, and I definitely had thoughts about the characters, pacing, relationships, and how successfully all those ideas came together. 🎧 Tune in for my spoiler-free review as I dive into the darker Peter Pan inspiration, the mystery at the heart of the story, its characters and relationships, and whether Missing Girls and Lost Boys ultimately delivered on its fascinating premise. Follow on Spotify for more dark fantasy, horror, retellings, fantasy romance, and spoiler-free book reviews from Cyn’s Workshop! #MissingGirlsAndLostBoys #HElliott #PeterPanRetelling #DarkFantasy #BookReviewPodcast

August did not go according to my TBR plans. 😅 I went into the month with another wildly ambitious reading goal and finished 10 books—but surprisingly, it wasn’t because I was reading bad books. Between reader fatigue, everyday life, and getting completely sucked back into writing my own books, reading time kept turning into writing time. And despite reading less, August gave me some fantastic books. I had mixed feelings about Umbra, especially its nonlinear storytelling and characterization, while A Theory of Dreaming gave me more of Effie and Preston and an emotional exploration of depression, devotion, and erasure. A Whiff of Murder finally gave me the cozy mystery I’d been craving, while Brigands & Breadknives was enjoyable but much slower for me than the previous books in the series. Then there were the books I couldn’t put down. A Feather So Black completely swept me away with its gorgeous prose, fae mythology, Swan Princess and Twelve Dancing Princesses vibes, and Thea’s powerful journey toward loving herself. Blood Over Bright Haven was basically perfection—melding science, physics, and magic with thoughtful explorations of colonialism, classism, religion, philosophy, and sexism. I also had some fun with the KPop Demon Hunters junior novelization, got pulled into the deadly competition and romantic tension of The Lure of Wolves, and ended August completely obsessed with An Education in Malice, a sensual, sapphic vampire story inspired by Carmilla. 🩸🖤 🎧 Tune in for my August Reading Wrap-Up as I talk about all 10 books, the hits and misses, why I’ve been reading more slowly lately, and which books absolutely stole the month. Follow on Spotify for more monthly reading wrap-ups, fantasy, sci-fi, cozy mysteries, sapphic reads, and spoiler-free book reviews from Cyn’s Workshop! #AugustReadingWrapUp #ReadingWrapUp #BookReviews #FantasyBooks #BookPodcast

Today I’m reviewing Umbra by Catalina Matei, a dark fantasy romance and the first book in the Echoes of Fate series. 🌑✨ Released August 27, 2026, Umbra kicks off a brand-new fantasy series blending dark fantasy and romance as Matei begins building the world, characters, and larger story that will carry through Echoes of Fate. 🎧 Tune in for my spoiler-free review as I share my thoughts on the characters, romance, worldbuilding, pacing, and darker fantasy elements, including what worked for me, what didn’t, and whether this debut installment left me eager to continue the series. Follow on Spotify for more dark fantasy, romantasy, sci-fi, paranormal romance, and spoiler-free book reviews from Cyn’s Workshop! #Umbra #CatalinaMatei #DarkFantasy #FantasyRomance #BookReviewPodcast

Today I’m reviewing It’s About Time by Carol J. Perry, the first book in the Wicked Salem Mystery series and a spin-off of her popular Witch City Mysteries. 🔮⏰ Published June 30, 2026, this new series brings us back to Salem for another dose of cozy mystery goodness, blending murder, mystery, and Perry’s signature witchy New England atmosphere. As the start of a brand-new series, it’s also an opportunity to jump into another corner of the Witch City world. 🎧 Tune in for my spoiler-free review as I share my thoughts on the mystery, characters, pacing, Salem setting, paranormal elements, and how It’s About Time works as the beginning of the Wicked Salem Mystery series. Follow on Spotify for more cozy mysteries, paranormal reads, fantasy, sci-fi, and spoiler-free book reviews from Cyn’s Workshop! #ItsAboutTime #CarolJPerry #CozyMystery #WitchyBooks #BookReviewPodcast

Today I’m reviewing When Flowers Wilt by G.E. Masters, the first book in the Deal with the Devil duet—a sapphic paranormal romance that brings supernatural intrigue and romance together in one seductive story. As the beginning of a duet, When Flowers Wilt sets the stage for a larger story while developing its central sapphic romance and paranormal elements. And with a title like Deal with the Devil, you know things aren't going to stay simple for long. 😈🌹 🎧 Tune in for my spoiler-free review as I dive into the characters, romance, supernatural elements, pacing, and overall story, including what worked for me and what left me wanting more. Follow on Spotify for more sapphic romance, paranormal romance, fantasy, romantasy, and spoiler-free book reviews from Cyn’s Workshop! #WhenFlowersWilt #GEMasters #SapphicRomance #ParanormalRomance #BookReviewPodcast

Today I’m reviewing Shadow Reaper, a dark fantasy adventure packed with dangerous magic, secrets, and a world where survival comes with a price. 🎧 Tune in for my spoiler-free thoughts as I break down the characters, worldbuilding, pacing, and fantasy elements, along with what worked for me, what didn’t quite land, and whether Shadow Reaper deserves a spot on your TBR. Follow on Spotify for more fantasy, romantasy, sci-fi, monthly reading wrap-ups, and spoiler-free book reviews from Cyn’s Workshop! #ShadowReaper #FantasyBooks #DarkFantasy #BookReviewPodcast #BookRecommendations

Today I’m reviewing We Are Legion (We Are Bob) by Dennis E. Taylor, the first book in the Bobiverse series—a sci-fi adventure that combines artificial intelligence, space exploration, existential questions, and a wonderfully nerdy sense of humor. After Bob Johansson dies and wakes up more than a century later as a computerized consciousness, he discovers he’s now the property of a government preparing to send him into space as a self-replicating probe. What follows is a wildly imaginative journey as Bob creates more versions of himself, explores the galaxy, encounters new worlds, and grapples with what it actually means to still be Bob when there are suddenly a whole lot of Bobs running around. Between the science, pop-culture references, humor, and surprisingly thoughtful questions about identity, humanity, religion, technology, and consciousness, there’s a lot more happening here than the book’s playful premise initially suggests. 🎧 Tune in for my spoiler-free review as I dive into the Bobs, the science-fiction concepts, worldbuilding, humor, pacing, and why We Are Legion (We Are Bob) is such a fun start to the Bobiverse. Follow on Spotify for more science fiction, fantasy, book club reads, and spoiler-free book reviews! #WeAreLegion #WeAreBob #DennisETaylor #Bobiverse #SciFiBooks

Today I’m reviewing Heir by Sabaa Tahir, the first book in a new duology set in the world of the An Ember in the Ashes series. Returning to this world means returning to its complicated politics, dangerous power struggles, and characters forced to reckon with the consequences of the generations that came before them. Heir expands the universe while introducing a new generation of characters whose stories are shaped by legacy, family, identity, and the lasting consequences of war. It’s an ambitious continuation that asks what happens after the heroes supposedly save the world—and whether their children can escape the mistakes they left behind. 🎧 Tune in for my spoiler-free review as I discuss the new characters, worldbuilding, pacing, connections to An Ember in the Ashes, and whether Heir successfully kicks off this next chapter of Sabaa Tahir’s fantasy world. Follow on Spotify for more YA fantasy, epic fantasy, sci-fi, romantasy, and spoiler-free book reviews! #Heir #SabaaTahir #AnEmberInTheAshes #YAFantasy #BookReviewPodcast

It’s time for my July Reading Wrap-Up! 📚 After June’s reading fatigue hit me hard, July was all about getting back into the groove, tackling my TBR, and—because apparently I enjoy giving myself impossible challenges—trying to make a dent in another wildly ambitious reading goal. This month brought 14 books across fantasy, science fiction, romance, horror, and more, with everything from surprising new favorites to books that left me with thoughts. Lots and lots of thoughts. 😂 🎧 Join me as I recap everything I read in July, share my spoiler-free thoughts and ratings, talk about the books that completely delivered, and get into the ones that didn’t quite live up to my expectations. Was July enough to officially break the reading slump? And did vacation actually help me read more? Let’s get into it! Follow on Spotify for more monthly reading wrap-ups, fantasy and sci-fi reviews, romantasy, special-edition unboxings, and all things bookish! #JulyReadingWrapUp #ReadingWrapUp #BookPodcast #BookReviews #BookRecommendations