Book Reviews – Page 13 – Sassy Reviews

December 25, 2025

Ironbound

𝗕𝗼𝗼𝗸: Ironbound 📚
𝗔𝘂𝘁𝗵𝗼𝗿: Andrew Givler ✍️
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Ironbound launches readers into a richly imagined empire where power is measured in iron, blood, and choice. Andrew Givler builds a fascinating magic system centered around Cor Hearts – mysterious artifacts that grant power at a terrible cost and explores what ambition does to both individuals and families.

Castor is a compelling protagonist. He is intelligent, curious, and torn between duty and desire. His internal conflict gives the story emotional weight, especially as the Sententia approaches and the political stakes escalate. The academy setting, brutal trials, and Roman-inspired worldbuilding feel immersive without being overwhelming.

What truly stands out is the moral tension surrounding power. The book asks hard questions about success, sacrifice, and whether greatness is worth losing yourself. With sharp prose, vivid action, and a steadily rising sense of dread, Ironbound is a strong start to what promises to be a thoughtful fantasy series.

𝗠𝘆 𝗥𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴: 5/5

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December 25, 2025

END

𝗕𝗼𝗼𝗸: END 📚
𝗔𝘂𝘁𝗵𝗼𝗿: Jason Kristopher ✍️
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Jason Kristopher delivers a dark, intelligent story that explores not just the end of civilization but the moral weight of surviving it.

The novel opens with raw emotional force, immediately pulling the reader into a world where the undead are not a sudden phenomenon, but the result of a long-buried scientific and governmental secret. What makes END stand out is its sweeping timeline: the narrative stretches from the 1800s through World War II and into modern-day America, revealing how outbreaks were repeatedly contained, covered up, and weaponized. This layered historical approach adds depth and realism.

David Blake is a deeply human protagonist whose personal loss grounds the larger catastrophe in genuine emotion. His grief, guilt, and determination make him relatable, even as the world around him collapses. Alongside him, the formation of AEGIS and the elite military teams introduces a strong tactical element. The military detail is sharp, clearly written by someone who understands strategy, hierarchy, and combat psychology.

END is a powerful opening to The Dying of the Light series—dark, thought-provoking, and impossible to put down.

𝗠𝘆 𝗥𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴: 5/5

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December 19, 2025

A Desperate Cat Lady

𝗕𝗼𝗼𝗸: A Desperate Cat Lady 📚
𝗔𝘂𝘁𝗵𝗼𝗿: D.C. Gomez ✍️
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A Desperate Cat Lady is the second book in The Cat Lady, a contemporary humorous fiction series. The story follows forty-five-year-old Angela, whose quiet routine takes a shocking turn during an early-morning run with granny Minnie when Angela stumbles upon a dead body. The incident is quickly reported to the authorities, but Angela is deeply worried especially since she and her family are involved in an illegal smuggling operation.

Angela’s mother leads the Silver Hair Gang, a group made up of her lifelong friends Ethel, Florence, and Minnie. Determined to uncover the truth, the feisty gang sets out to find the killer on their own. At the same time, Detectives Johnson and Washington are working the case, trying to piece together the mystery and why the victim named Angela as the sole heir to a secret fortune.

As if things weren’t complicated enough, Angela is also an arms dealer who sources her supplies from Joe’s Pawnshop. The story dives into her next arms deal and the risks she takes to protect her family from the killer on the loose.

This book kept me on the edge of my seat from start to finish. The cover is eye-catching, the title fits perfectly, and the story is both thrilling and entertaining. I thoroughly enjoyed every moment of it, and Angela along with the Silver Hair Gang will stay with me for a long time.

𝗠𝘆 𝗥𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴: 5/5

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December 19, 2025

Scylla: The Revenge

𝗕𝗼𝗼𝗸: Scylla: The Revenge 📚
𝗔𝘂𝘁𝗵𝗼𝗿: Myron Edwards ✍️
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The novel opens with what appears to be a tragic accident. A tourist vanished after a cliff jump at Cape Greco. But as the story unfolds, it becomes clear that these deaths are neither random nor natural. Edwards gradually introduces a chilling undercurrent of supernatural influence.

The book is well paced and there are no dull moments in it. Each chapter pushes the narrative forward with mounting tension, moving between perspectives that include victims, investigators, and those unknowingly entangled in forces far beyond their control.

Character development is handled with care. The island of Cyprus itself emerges almost as a character—beautiful, mysterious, and dangerous—its history and legends woven seamlessly into the plot.

While the story can be unsettling at times, it is precisely this darkness that gives the novel its power and memorability. Go ahead with this book without any second thoughts. This story will stay in my mind for a long time.

𝗠𝘆 𝗥𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴: 5/5

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December 18, 2025December 18, 2025

Tears of a Thousand Years

𝗕𝗼𝗼𝗸: Tears of a Thousand Years 📚
𝗔𝘂𝘁𝗵𝗼𝗿: G.W. Olson ✍️
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Vega, a Rememberer dedicated to preserving cultures before they fade into obscurity, travels with her brother Wren to a remote mountain village known as Small Home.

Vega and Wren’s climb to Small Home is not just a physical journey but a symbolic one. Through their contrasting personalities, Vega’s seriousness and sense of duty balanced against Wren’s humor and irreverence, Olson immediately grounds the reader in character-driven storytelling. Their interactions feel natural and warm, adding lightness to a narrative that ultimately grapples with themes of memory, loss, and responsibility.

Small Home itself is beautifully realized. The village feels alive, shaped by traditions, community, and an intimate relationship with the land. As Vega observes and records the lives of its inhabitants, the novel gently asks whether remembering is enough or whether true respect for a culture demands something deeper. The townspeople tell her amazing stories about Tantea, the teacher of miracles. How Vega’s encounter with Tantea will go?

The writing style of the author is nice. The world building is amazing. The cover photo is eye-catching and the title is suitable. The characters are well developed and will stay on my mind for a long time.

𝗠𝘆 𝗥𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴: 5/5

Book is available on Pre-order on Amazon

December 15, 2025

The Haunting of Little Maggie Smith

𝗕𝗼𝗼𝗸: The Haunting of Little Maggie Smith 📚
𝗔𝘂𝘁𝗵𝗼𝗿: L.L. Lindsay ✍️
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The Haunting of Little Maggie Smith is a gripping story. The Smith family moves into a new house, hoping for a fresh start. What initially feels like a place of comfort and new beginnings slowly transforms into something far more sinister, especially for young Maggie Smith.

From the moment the family settles into their new home, an eerie atmosphere takes hold. The author skillfully uses the setting to build tension, turning ordinary spaces into sources of fear. The house itself feels alive, filled with secrets that seem to reveal themselves only to Maggie. This focus on a child’s experience makes the horror deeply personal.

Maggie’s character is portrayed with sensitivity and realism, allowing readers to connect with her fear, confusion, and isolation. As strange events begin to unfold, the story explores how easily a child’s distress can be overlooked or misunderstood by adults. This emotional layer adds depth to the haunting, making it more than just a supernatural tale.

The pacing is steady and effective, gradually increasing the sense of dread. The writing keeps the reader engaged, with an underlying tension that grows stronger as the mystery of the house and Maggie’s experiences deepen.

𝗠𝘆 𝗥𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴: 5/5

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December 7, 2025

Corporate Coach Approach

𝗕𝗼𝗼𝗸: Corporate Coach Approach 📚
𝗔𝘂𝘁𝗵𝗼𝗿: Nicole Fronek ✍️
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“Corporate Coach Approach: A Systematic Guide to Career Development” by Nicole Fronek is an insightful and practical read, especially for anyone looking to intentionally shape their career path.

Fronek emphasizes the importance of building a strong personal brand and encourages readers to engage with their teams consistently and purposefully. She highlights the value of being a solution-oriented professional to earn credibility with stakeholders. Her observations about corporate culture—such as favoritism and colleagues attempting to undermine others in front of leadership—feel both relatable and eye-opening.

The book underscores that strategic brand management is essential for career growth. The lessons I gained from it are truly valuable; I only wish I had come across a book like this earlier in my career.

I highly recommend it to recent graduates, as the wisdom it offers can help readers make more intentional, thoughtful decisions about their professional journeys.

𝗠𝘆 𝗥𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴: 5/5

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December 7, 2025

Winter Road

𝗕𝗼𝗼𝗸: Winter Road 📚
𝗔𝘂𝘁𝗵𝗼𝗿: Kristina Rienzi ✍️
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Winter Road by Kristina Rienzi is a gripping and suspenseful read. The story centers around Amelia Montgomery, who has just broken off her engagement to Jake—the town’s most handsome and wealthy bachelor. This holiday season, she returns home, desperate to escape what she believes was the worst decision of her life.

But Jake refuses to let her go. If he can’t have Amelia, then no one will. He shows up uninvited at the Montgomery family home, and when he finds Amelia’s ex, Billy, there, he even pulls a gun on him. Amelia knows Jake is dangerous, and the lengths he’s willing to go terrify her.

To find out how Amelia fights to protect herself and the people she loves, you’ll need to dive into this intense novella. I thoroughly enjoyed reading it—the plot kept me on edge from start to finish. Once I picked it up, I couldn’t put it down. Amelia’s character especially stood out, and I loved following her journey.

𝗠𝘆 𝗥𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴: 5/5

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December 6, 2025

15 Ways Pets Teach Us Kindness

𝗕𝗼𝗼𝗸: 15 Ways Pets Teach Us Kindness 📚
𝗔𝘂𝘁𝗵𝗼𝗿: Kim Lengling ✍️
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“15 Ways Pets Teach Us Kindness” penned by the author Kim Lengling is a unique read. In this book, the author has shared 15 beautiful reflections that teach readers to forgive, love unconditionally, listen with an open heart, etc.

“Sharing Without Keeping Score” teaches us to give without expecting anything back. The author wants us to give without keeping the count.

‘Even the Old Dogs Have Wisdom’ is an amazing chapter that teaches us that growing old doesn’t mean fading out. It means shining in a quieter way.

‘Morning Routines, Tail Wags, and Tiny Joys’ reminds us to not have rushed mornings. The author reminds us to start our mornings by being grateful.

This is a thought provoking read. Readers may pause and reflect on what they read at the end of each chapter. This book teaches important lessons to the readers. It is a must read. I had a great time reading this book and I found it worth my time. Go ahead with it without any second thoughts.

𝗠𝘆 𝗥𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴: 5/5

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November 19, 2025

American Oz Maker

𝗕𝗼𝗼𝗸: American Oz Maker 📚
𝗔𝘂𝘁𝗵𝗼𝗿: Warwick Gleeson ✍️
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Warwick Gleeson blends cosmic warfare, metaphysics, political collapse, myth, and dark humor into a narrative. The worldbuilding is astonishing: floating city-worlds of Oz, apocalyptic Earth battlefields, magical technologies powered by Tao, and bizarre entities like Despicables, Galaxians, and the Witch Empress.

The characters have surprising emotional depth. Piper Robbin, the fierce and witty sorceress whose power and vulnerability form the emotional backbone, is an unforgettable protagonist. Her relationship with her father, Edison Godfellow—the “American Oz Maker” himself—adds tension, humor, and tragedy all at once. Catherine Romanova’s hatred, ambition, and eventual transformation give the story weight.

The novel is well paced. Interdimensional energy batteries, monstrous alien invasions, magical warships, therapy cult infiltration, and a utopia continuously threatened by unseen cosmic forces made me enjoy every bit of this book. I am impressed by the vivid imagination of the author in world building.

𝗠𝘆 𝗥𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴: 5/5

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