Book Reviews – Page 6 – Sassy Reviews

December 27, 2025

It Happened in the Hollow

𝗕𝗼𝗼𝗸: It Happened in the Hollow 📚
𝗔𝘂𝘁𝗵𝗼𝗿: Brenda Stanley ✍️
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It Happened in the Hollow is a haunting, slow-burn novel that lingers long after the final page. Brenda Stanley weaves together grief, secrecy, and generational trauma against the eerie backdrop of a divided rural community. The alternating perspectives particularly between the living and the dead add a deeply emotional layer that makes the story feel both intimate and unsettling.

What stands out most is the novel’s atmosphere. The hollow itself feels like a living presence, heavy with memory and unresolved pain. Stanley’s prose is reflective and immersive, allowing readers to sit with the characters’ guilt, longing, and unanswered questions rather than rushing toward easy resolutions.

This is not a fast-paced thriller, but a thoughtful and emotionally rich story about loss, love, and the weight of the past. Readers who appreciate character-driven fiction and introspective storytelling will find “It Happened in the Hollow” quietly powerful and deeply affecting. Both Landis and Benji will stay on your mind long after you finish reading this book.

𝗠𝘆 𝗥𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴: 5/5

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December 27, 2025

MIT-RO-DON: 1974

𝗕𝗼𝗼𝗸: MIT-RO-DON: 1974 📚
𝗔𝘂𝘁𝗵𝗼𝗿: D.R. Spires ✍️
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MIT-RO-DON: 1974 is a fast-paced science fiction novel that blends military realism, UFO lore, and speculative philosophy into an immersive first-contact narrative. Set against the stark deserts of Arizona during the mid-1970s, the novel follows helicopter pilot and engineer Jim DeLuca as an ordinary life collides with an extraordinary extraterrestrial encounter.

What begins as concern for Jim’s sister and her husband, Ronny, a former Vietnam pilot obsessed with UFO sightings quickly escalates into a gripping sequence of aerial chases, mysterious radar anomalies, and impossible technology. Spires excels at grounding the story in technical detail: aircraft mechanics, radar operations, and military flight maneuvers are described with precision, lending authenticity and credibility to the unfolding events.

The book is well paced. The early chapters build tension steadily, culminating in dramatic encounters that are both thrilling and eerie. The UFO itself is not treated merely as a spectacle but as a catalyst for deeper questions about human perception, preparedness, and our place in a much larger universe. As the story progresses, the narrative expands beyond simple sightings and pursuit into broader themes involving alien intelligence, hidden bases, time, and human conflict.

The characters are well developed. I am impressed by the author’s vivid imagination in world building. Go ahead with this book without any second thoughts.

𝗠𝘆 𝗥𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴: 5/5

December 27, 2025

Olympus, and the House of Tchrlok

𝗕𝗼𝗼𝗸: Olympus, and the House of Tchrlok 📚
𝗔𝘂𝘁𝗵𝗼𝗿: D. R. Spires ✍️
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Olympus, and the House of Tchrlok blends epic world-building, philosophical inquiry, and deeply personal emotion into a vast interstellar saga. D. R. Spires does not merely tell a story; he constructs an entire cosmology political, scientific, and moral where power, creation, and consequence are constantly in tension.

The novel explores empire: how it is born, how it justifies itself, and how it inevitably reshapes both the conqueror and the conquered. The Traxian Empire, with its rigid hierarchies, pod-mothers, and chilling pragmatism, feels unsettlingly believable. Spires excels at presenting an alien civilization. The echoes of colonialism, exploitation, and moral compromise are unmistakable and intentional.

One of the most compelling elements of the book is its treatment of intelligence and creation. Through characters like Tchrlok and the brilliant Designer, the novel raises profound questions about consciousness, godhood, and responsibility. Power in this universe is not simply physical or political, it is intellectual and temporal, capable of bending reality itself. Yet Spires is careful to show that such power always comes at a cost.

𝗠𝘆 𝗥𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴: 5/5

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December 25, 2025

Hex and the City

𝗕𝗼𝗼𝗸: Hex and the City 📚
𝗔𝘂𝘁𝗵𝗼𝗿: Mark Leslie and Julie Strauss ✍️
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Hex and the City is a fast-paced story that blends supernatural chaos, sharp wit, and emotional depth in a way that feels thrilling. Set against the gritty energy of New York City and the haunting atmosphere of New Orleans, the story follows Michael Andrews, a werewolf trying to live a semi-normal life and Gail Sommers, a woman bound by an ancient family curse that makes love dangerously complicated.

What really stands out is the balance between action and emotion. The novel delivers intense paranormal conflicts, secret societies, curses, and magic, but never loses sight of its characters’ inner struggles. Michael and Gail’s relationship is raw, messy, and deeply human, making the stakes feel personal even when the fate of the world is on the line.

The writing is smart, humorous, and easy to follow. The alternating points of view keep the momentum strong and allow readers to connect deeply with both leads. Even as part of the Canadian Werewolf series, this book works perfectly as a standalone.

𝗠𝘆 𝗥𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴: 5/5

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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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