All Things Halloween Review - Silver Elite

Silver Elite (Silver Elite, #1)

By: Dani Francis

Publication: May 6, 2025 by Del Rey

512 pages

Genre: Adult, Fantasy, Science Fiction

Source: Personal Kindle Library

( Goodreads | Amazon )

*Note: The above link to Amazon is an affiliate links. Affiliate links support giveaways for Somewhere Only We Know readers.

Goodreads description--Psychic gifts are a death sentence and there are rules to survival: Trust no one. Lie to everyone. And whatever you do, don’t fall for your greatest enemy.

TRUST NO ONE.

Wren Darlington has spent her whole life in hiding, honing her psychic abilities and aiding the rebel Uprising in small ways. On the Continent, being Modified means certain death—and Wren is one of the most powerful Mods in existence. When one careless mistake places her in the hands of the enemy and she’s forced to join Silver Block, their most elite training program, she’s finally handed the perfect opportunity to strike a devastating blow from inside their ranks.

LIE TO EVERYONE.

But training for Silver Block can be deadly, especially when you’re harboring dangerous secrets and living in close quarters with everyone who wants you dead.

AND WHATEVER YOU DO, DON’T FALL FOR YOUR GREATEST ENEMY.

As the stakes grow ever higher, Wren must prove herself. But that’s easier said than done when your commanding officer is the ruthless and infuriatingly irresistible Cross Redden, who doesn’t miss anything when it comes to her. And as war rages between Mods like her and those who aim to destroy them, Wren must decide just how far she’s willing to go to protect herself . . . and how much of the Continent is worth saving.

The world of Silver Elite has been killing off anyone with psychic abilities, called Modified or silverbloods. Their veins glow when they're using their powers, so it's not something that is easily hidden. However, Wren is unique. Her veins don't glow. Wren's parents were killed, and her mother entrusted her to a man she called her uncle, but they didn't share any blood. Jim took her into an area covered in darkness at all hours of the day. They lived there for years. Wren learned how to navigate it, and Jim taught her how to use her abilities.

But Uncle Jim gets captured as a suspected rebel participating in the Uprising. And he gets condemned to execution. In an attempt to save him. Wren gets captured as well. And her "sentence" is to go through the training program which ultimately leads to the Silver Elite. She is up against many other cadets who are trying for the program too. And there are challenges, but only in the way of training. Wren is now in the most dangerous place possible. She is surrounded by people who would kill her on the spot if she displayed any psychic abilities. Cross in particular is nearly convinced that she's a Mod, but he isn't certain yet. And keeping his eye on her in the only way to be sure one way or the other.

Some annoyances for me involved Wren's expectations of a relationship/marriage. She claims that she's seen many women bend to the will of men. Yet diversity for diversity's sake is present within the story. So how does that qualify? I also don't like the flippant use of the b-word. There are spicy scenes that I could definitely do without. And language abounds, which I also find unnecessary for a good story.

-..."reckless is not the same as brave."

-"Rushing headfirst into danger is not an act of courage..."

Nearly all of my highlights had to do with things that annoyed me or things I thought would come back around. So there's not much in the way of poetic or memorable quotes.

The best part of this book is the suspense of will she or won't she get caught. And that was on-point. There's one more book in this series, I believe, and I want to read it, but I'm not dying for it immediately. Silver Elite gets 3.5 Stars. Have you read Silver Elite? What did you think? Let me know!

This review is part of my All Things Halloween event--a month of fantasy, paranormal, supernatural, mystery/thriller, etc reviews and books.

Can't Wait for A Match for the Marquess

Can't-Wait Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Wishful Endings to spotlight and talk about the books we're excited about that we have yet to read. Generally they're books that have yet to be released as well. It's based on Waiting on Wednesday, hosted by the fabulous Jill at Breaking the Spine. Find out more here.

A Match for the Marquess (London's Most Eligible, # 2)

By: Chelsea Bobulski

Expected Publication: February 2, 2027 by Haven

336 pages

Genre: Adult, Historical Fiction, Romance, Clean Romance, Edwardian

( Goodreads | Amazon )

*Note: The above link to Amazon is an affiliate links. Affiliate links support giveaways for Somewhere Only We Know readers.

Goodreads description--American heiress Rose Carrington knows exactly what she wants in a husband, and the Marquess of Holbrook--with his roguish behavior--doesn't have it. But when a lively English house party throws the polar opposites together as unlikely partners in a week of spirited competition, Rose finds her carefully ordered plans turned upside down.

August Shaw has spent years perfecting the art of charming everyone while committing to no one, but Rose and her impossible expectations make him wonder if he's been wrong about what he wants. And even as he offers to help her catch the attention of a more suitable houseguest, August finds himself wishing he could be the type of man to win her love.

As the games grow more competitive, Rose's feelings toward August begin to betray her. How could someone so far from her ideal find his way into her heart?

Chelsea Bobulski weaves together yearning and wit in her charming opposites-attract romance set in Edwardian-era England.

What are you guys waiting on this week? Let me know!

All Things Halloween Review - Dire Bound

Dire Bound (The Wolves Ruin, # 1)

By: Sable Sorensen

Publication: May 21, 2025 by Requited

605 pages

Genre: Adult, Fantasy, Romantasy

Source: Personal Kindle Library

( Goodreads | Amazon )

*Note: The above link to Amazon is an affiliate links. Affiliate links support giveaways for Somewhere Only We Know readers.

Goodreads description--Only the worthy survive the Bonding Trials. She’ll risk her life—and her heart—to be one of them.

Meryn Cooper has always hated the Bonded, elite warriors who form mental links with the massive, vicious direwolves they ride. While they live in luxury, Meryn struggles to keep her family out of poverty. When her little sister, Saela, is kidnapped—stolen across the border by the immortal monsters her country has spent centuries fighting—Meryn’s world falls apart.

Desperate to cross the front and save her sister, Meryn enlists in the army and is thrown into the deadly Bonding Trials, where any mistake will cost her life.

Now Meryn must survive four months of training at the castle. She is bound to a feral direwolf who refuses to communicate. The other trainees would love to spill her common blood. And her cold and beautiful instructor, Stark Therion, is eager to punish any weakness.

Everything is a competition, and everyone is out to get her—everyone except the dangerously handsome crown prince, whose attention adds another target to her back. In the castle, every smile hides a knife…and the halls hide dark secrets.

It’s bond or bleed. Duel or die. Failure is ruin.

Dire Bound contains mature content including depictions of graphic violence, and is therefore recommended for readers 17+. For a full list of tropes and TWs, please visit the author's website.

If you liked Fourth Wing, then chances are good that you will enjoy Dire Bound.

Meryn's father died serving in the military, and her mother has slowly been losing her mind to visions and hallucinations. Meryn has taken the responsibility of taking care of herself and her younger sister, Saela. Meryn earns extra money by fighting in the fighting pits. She's also in a loose relationship with Lee, who works in the palace. When Saela is kidnapped by the immortal monsters (siphons) of the neighboring nation, Astreona, which has been at war with theirs for 500 years, Meryn knows she has to do whatever she can to be sent to the front so she can find Saela. It just so happens the Bonding Trials are starting, and Meryn needs to enter--not because she wants to bond with a direwolf, but because the trials are her best bet to making her way to the front as soon as possible.

Against her wishes, a direwolf does choose her, but bonding is anything but easy or natural for Meryn. Most of the other trainees are descendants of previous bonded. And they are all about culling the weakest links to make the pack as strong as possible. There are four packs that each channel a specific type of magic from wolf to rider.

Stark is one of the strongest bonded riders, both in magic and in physical ability to fight. And he's in charge of the bonded trials. Meryn can't figure out if he has a personal vendetta against her or if he's actually trying to help her survive. At the same time, things with Lee are progressing. Just because Meryn is in the bonded trials doesn't mean the two of them are over.

Meryn isn't a perfect character. One of her flaws is how quick to pass judgement she is. She judges the Bonded before knowing them. She assumes they walk around flaunting themselves and judging others. She assumes they are evil and don't hesitate to kill or execute others--even when those people are deserters. She resents those who have more than she grew up with. It's understandable in most cases, but that doesn't mean it's right. And she judges things she knows nothing about. She occasionally blurts out her opinion with little thought or consideration for the opinions of those nearby.

Twists were somewhat predictable to me. Although I was surprised a time or two. I found it surprising that Meryn's internal dialogue had moments like, "Please, let some of these people survive tomorrow's test." Um, ma'am, who exactly are you sending that thought out to? Are you, perhaps, praying? Yes, there are "gods/goddesses" in this series, but I felt like this was actually a bloop on the author's part. I don't mind it, but I found it an inconsistency with the character/world.

Another question/inconsistency I saw was that Meryn notes how attractive all of the bonded are. Does that mean the wolves only bond with people who are attractive? Or does the bond itself change people's appearances to make them more attractive than they were before bonding?

Favorite quotes:

-Confidence makes men sloppy. And sloppy men are easy targets.

-"Someday, Meryn...someday, you might come up against someone who has outmaneuvered you. You might not even see it coming."

-"Careful with that smart mouth once you're in the army," Igor warns. "Commanders don't love it when their soldiers talk back."

-I try to separate myself from his glare, but it's like trying to read a book while sitting under a guillotine.

Unlike Fourth Wing, a direwolf does die if their human bonded dies. I felt like this was understood by the authors, but it wasn't talked about enough for me. The choices that people make, the choices the direwolves make, seemed to make little sense when given this knowledge. Choices felt like they should be different at times.

Why did Meryn get to negotiate about being the one who interrogated the siphon caught that one time? She doesn't have bargaining power. She has no power at all. Yet Stark gives in to her in a way that makes zero sense at all. Interrogation is a skill. One Meryn has no experience in.

Dire Bound was a book that was easy to get hooked on the storyline and the plot. But I found myself questioning things so often. Most of my highlights also have notes attached to them--which is actually rare for me. I found so many inconsistencies in character, thought, world-building, or at the very least, things that just didn't make sense to me. This isn't a book that stands up to scrutiny very well. Dire Bound gets 3.5 Stars. I originally rated it 4 Stars in my mind, but upon writing my review and reliving it a little, I decided to bump that rating down. Have you read Dire Bound? What did you think? Let me know!

*Note: Dire Bound does include language and open door bedroom scenes. I prefer to skip over those while reading. But I like to note them in my reviews for other readers who might want to avoid them altogether.

This review is part of my All Things Halloween event--a month of fantasy, paranormal, supernatural, mystery/thriller, etc reviews and books.

Homeschool Friday - Zoe's Hiding Place

Homeschool Friday is a feature here at Somewhere Only We Know that showcases books my family reads during homeschool and provides a mini-review for each.

Zoe's Hiding Place (Good News for Little Hearts)

By: David A Powlison

Illustrated By: Joe Hox

Publication: October 6, 2018 by New Growth Press

32 pages

Genre: Children's, Animals, Picture Books, Christian, Manners

Source: Personal Library

( Goodreads | Amazon )

*Note: The above link to Amazon is an affiliate link. Affiliate links support giveaways for Somewhere Only We Know readers.

Goodreads description--This beautifully illustrated book invites children to remember that the Lord is near when they are anxious. Zoe, a fearful mouse, is worried about a class trip. As she talks with her parents, Zoe realizes that she can turn to God for help. Papa Mouse gives her a verse from the “Great Book” that she can read when she is afraid. She learns that she can tell God all about her fears, and he will comfort her. Also included is a tear-out page of “Back Pocket Bible Verses” that will give children a practical way to remember God’s words when they are afraid.

A new series of hardback, illustrated children’s books for three-to eight-year-olds—each centered on an animal family—bring gospel help and biblical counsel to families. The animal characters, colorful illustrations, and the real-life issues each animal family face will captivate children. The first three books address anxiety, anger, and failure bringing biblical help and hope to issues every child faces. The last page of each book contains information for parents on how God, in his Word, helps children apply biblical truth to specific issues. Together children and parents will be guided by the stories into meaningful conversations about living by faith in the details of everyday life.

I absolutely love the Good News for Little Hearts series. There's always a Scripture where a book dedication usually stands. Zoe's Hiding Place features Psalms 46:1, "God is our refuge and strength, always ready to help in times of trouble." Zoe's Hiding Place is 32 pages long, but of course, it isn't an AR book so finding an exact book level for reading purposes would just have to be a guess, but I would put these books on par with the Berenstain Bears which ranges from a level-2 to a level-4. Either way, this is a book that I've read to my kids, not a book that my kids have grabbed for supplemental reading purposes (at least so far).

The book starts with Zoe commenting about how under her purple patchwork quilt is her favorite place to hide because she feels so safe and cozy. On the walk to school, Zoe dives into her fairytale book. She barely notices her friends joining her. At school, Miss Minnick announces that they have been invited to visit the Mulberry Meadow Art Museum in the morning. Zoe isn't as excited as everyone else because she's remembering her last trip to the museum where she got so lost looking at a painting that she didn't notice her class leaving. Zoe's mind begins to fill with worries and fear. Mama came in to talk to her. She tells Zoe that worry wants you to believe that you're all alone, but God and Jesus are both with you. She explains that you can trust God to keep you safe. Mama encourages Zoe to turn her fears into prayers and instructs her to listen carefully to the adults in charge of keeping her safe. Zoe wakes up and prays before heading to the museum. Her father gives her a paper with Philippians 4:5-6 on it and tells her to pull it out to read when she feels afraid.

On her way to school, Zoe notices the beauty around her. She doesn't feel afraid, she feels God's presence and peace. She prays again when they arrive at the museum. And she realizes that she forgot how much she loves the art museum. Zoey gets lost in a painting once again and doesn't notice the class leaving, but when she realizes it, she brings the paper out of her pocket and prays again. Then she remembered that all she had to do was find the Great Oak at the beginning of the meadow. And there was her class. Miss Minnick realizes that she needs to do a better job keeping up with her class, but Zoe is okay after all.

At the end of the book is a section to parents about helping children with anxiety. And then finally, there are four "Back Pocket Bible Verses" that you can pull out and give to your child/children for when they are anxious. Philippians 4:5-6, 1 Peter 5:7, Psalm 121:7-8, and Psalm 23:1.

Picture books that teach about Biblical character in a way that children can understand and apply in their lives are among my top favorite books. This entire series is great. Zoe's Hiding Place gets 5 Stars. Have you or your child read Zoe's Hiding Place? What did you think? Let me know!

All Things Halloween Review - Sunrise on the Reaping

Sunrise on the Reaping (The Hunger Games, # 0.5)

By: Suzanne Collins

Publication: March 18, 2025 by Scholastic Press

400 pages

Genre: Young Adult, Dystopian, Fantasy, Science Fiction

Source: Borrowed from the e-library

( Goodreads | Amazon )

*Note: The above link to Amazon is an affiliate links. Affiliate links support giveaways for Somewhere Only We Know readers.

Goodreads description--When you've been set up to lose everything you love, what is there left to fight for?

As the day dawns on the fiftieth annual Hunger Games, fear grips the districts of Panem. This year, in honor of the Quarter Quell, twice as many tributes will be taken from their homes.

Back in District 12, Haymitch Abernathy is trying not to think too hard about his chances. All he cares about is making it through the day and being with the girl he loves.

When Haymitch's name is called, he can feel all his dreams break. He's torn from his family and his love, shuttled to the Capitol with the three other District 12 tributes: a young friend who's nearly a sister to him, a compulsive oddsmaker, and the most stuck-up girl in town.

As the Games begin, Haymitch understands he's been set up to fail. But there's something in him that wants to fight . . . and have that fight reverberate far beyond the deadly arena.

I don't often return to series that I feel has been complete when additional books are written over time. Especially if a large amount of time has passed, and even more especially if the new book is a prequel. The Hunger Games already had a prequel that I wasn't the least bit interested in. I tried to force myself to get it and read it just to complete the series, but I was never interested in President Snow's story, so I never finished The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes, but Haymitch was a much more interesting character from the original books in my opinion, and I heard good things about it from my nephew. So I decided to check it out. And I actually listened to this almost non-stop on our trip to Gatlinburg/Pigeon Forge, TN in April.

Because this is a prequel, you already know how Haymitch's story ends. He wins his year of the hunger games. He is District 12's only winner. And he lives alone in the winner's village, drinking himself into a stupor more times than not. And yeah, so that's exactly where Sunrise on the Reaping ends. What the reader doesn't fully know or understand is the journey to get there.

I want to discuss some topics in detail, but I don't want to spoil anything for the reader since we already know so much about how this story ends; spoiling anything else would make the book pointless. I won't say that Sunrise on the Reaping is necessary to enjoy the series, but it does make an already interesting character more understandable and interesting.

The narrator, Jefferson White, did a great job. I can't tell you the last time I listened to a book entirely narrated by a male, but I enjoyed this one. Sometimes the female voices were a bit much, but it didn't bother me too much.

Sunrise on the Reaping was better than I thought it was going to be. At one point, I was hoping for an ending that was different from what I knew to be the actual ending. So to get me invested enough to hope against what I know to be true felt like a feat well accomplished. Sunrise on the Reaping gets 4 Stars. Have you read or listened to Sunrise on the Reaping? What did you think? Let me know!

This review is part of my All Things Halloween event--a month of fantasy, paranormal, supernatural, mystery/thriller, etc reviews and books.