Review: The Dungeon Anarchist's Cookbook

The Dungeon Anarchist's Cookbook by Matt Dinniman
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

The Dungeon Anarchist's Cookbook is the third book in the Dungeon Crawler Carl series by Matt Dinniman.  You really need to read these books in order simply because they build on each other and reference the previous ones.  If you aren't familiar with LitRPG, it is kind of like playing a video game but in book form.  You wouldn't just jump into it in the middle.  You would be woefully unprepared.  

Shout out to Matt for telling you up front not to worry about the mapping.  That was a brain saver.  I won't spoil very much but this level involves trains.  It also involves all the chaos and mayhem you have come to expect from spending time with Carl and Princess Donut.  The monsters are bigger and tougher.  It can only get worse from here.

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Review: Careless People: A Cautionary Tale of Power, Greed, and Lost Idealism

Careless People: A Cautionary Tale of Power, Greed, and Lost Idealism by Sarah Wynn-Williams
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

A friend, who kept refencing stories in it, recommended I read Careless People: A Cautionary Tale of Power, Greed, and Lost Idealism by Sarah Wynn-Williams.  I have read other tech memoirs and wasn't sure if this would bring anything new to the table.  I was so wrong.  First, I didn't know that Sarah Wynn-Williams is a former diplomat for New Zealand.  Former diplomats represent!  Second, she worked with Sheryl Sandberg, and I have very strong feelings about Lean In.  Not a fan.  I was not surprised to learn that (SPOILER ALERT) rich people feel very entitled.  If anything, this book really brought back bad memories of my former career. I kept thinking "that tracks" with every anecdote.  Wile I use the Zuck's platforms to stay in touch with people, and you might even be reading this on one of them, I don't have any illusions they exist to make the world a better place.  If you do have those illusions, you will want to read this.  If you still believe in Lean In, you will want to read this.  If you want to read about how crazy rich people can be, you will want to read this.  

Bonus points: If my Facebook and Instagram accounts disappear, you know someone read this.

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Review: In the Days of Rain: A Daughter, a Father, a Cult

In the Days of Rain: A Daughter, a Father, a Cult by Rebecca Stott
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

In the Days of Rain: A Daughter, a Father, a Cult by Rebecca Stott is her story, but also her father's story.  Before he passed away, Rebecca's father was attempting to write his memoir.  He got stuck in a period of his life and never finished.  Rebecca honors him by doing the work to finally get the rest of the story down.  It is quite the story!  Rebecca grew up in a religious group that has had many names and splintered factions.  Her father at one point is even in the leadership of the group.  While Rebecca makes peace with her father, he wasn't an angel by any stretch of the imagination.  This book will appeal to anyone who is also interested in non-mainstream religions and cults.  

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Review: The One

The One by John Marrs
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

The One by John Marrs is the first book in the Dark Future series.  I read book three first not realizing it was a series.  There were references to this book but not really spoilers.  I feel like you could read them in any order or just as standalones.  

The premise of The One really appealed to me.  A genetic test will reveal who your perfect match is.  That's it.  The test doesn't care about how they look, how old they are, where they are, what their gender identity is.  You can choose to act on the information or ignore it.  It will even cost you less than the current DNA tests available.  It sounds like a no-brainer.  The One follows the stories of several people who interact with the program and what happens to them.  Apparently, being matched with your soulmate isn't always a recipe for happily ever after.  I was engrossed.  This is not full-on dystopian fiction, but it is a bit dark.  

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Review: The List

The List by Steve Berry
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Full Disclosure: I received an Advance Reader's Copy of The List by Steve Berry from Grand Central Publishing via NetGalley.  This book is available for purchase now.  

I am an avid reader of Steve Berry's books.  I have read the entire Cotton Malone series.  When I saw The List coming out, I couldn't wait to read it.  The List is not part of the Cotton Malone series.  It is also a bit different from that series.  This feels more like a John Grisham novel.  When I got to the end, I realized that Steve Berry recognized that as well.  I say all that in case you pick this up thinking you will get more Malone and are wondering why you are reading about Southern lawyers.  Surprise!  But seriously, this book scares me.  If a company isn't already doing what this book suggests, I feel like we are not far from a future where they will.  Sure, we don't see a lot of company towns these days although we might soon as companies look to diversify to increase profit.  I am being intentionally vague because I don't want to give away the big reveal.  However, it will reveal itself pretty early on in the book. You don't really need to fear spoilers.  If you like legal thrillers, you will want to read The List.

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Review: Westward Women: A Novel

Westward Women: A Novel by Alice Martin
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Full Disclosure: I received an Advance Reader's Copy of Westward Women: A Novel by Alice Martin from St. Martin's Press via NetGalley. It will be published in March 2026.  

I will confess that I agreed to read Westward Women by Alice Martin because as a young girl, I used to watch Westward the Women every time it was on television.  I haven't seen it in ages and don't remember if it is problematic, but I was just so fascinated with these women who were compelled to go west no matter what obstacles they encountered.  Westward Women is like a modern, fever dream version of that.  Nobody knows why women get the itch and have to compulsively start heading west.  The same thing that compels them to move also affects them in other ways physically and mentally, making them vulnerable.  Some try to travel in groups or rely on the kindness of strangers to get them where they are drawn to go.  Of course, not everybody they encounter has good intentions.  The story is told from the perspective of a few different women.  All of them are searching for something.  All of them are hoping to find what they are looking for before whatever this thing is completely debilitates them.  Despite what happens, I still found myself wanting to go on a road trip.

Bonus points for Winnie, worth remembering.  

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Review: Best Wishes from The Full Moon Coffee Shop

Best Wishes from The Full Moon Coffee Shop by Mai Mochizuki
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Full Disclosure: I received an Advance Reader's Copy of Best Wishes from The Full Moon Coffee Shop by Mai Mochizuki from Ballantine Books via NetGalley.  This book is set to be published at the end of October 2025.

Best Wishes from The Full Moon Coffee Shop is the second book in the Full Moon Coffee Shop series by Mai Mochizuki.  While there are a few references to the first book, you could read this as a standalone.  If you do though, there might be a few first book spoilers.  If you don't care about that, enjoy them at will!  I will also say that this book might be best enjoyed around the winter holidays.  I couldn't wait that long.  Like the first book, the chapters of this book follow the story of a character and how they end up at the Full Moon Coffee Shop.  There is also a certain amount of overlap in the stories.  Every character learns something and often it is not to assume you know what someone else is thinking or their motivations.  Sometimes, you have to give people the benefit of the doubt.  

I can't decide if the best part of the coffee shop is that it is a cat cafe (IYKYK) or that they don't take orders and custom-make the food and beverages to each specific customer.  I am dying to know what I would get.  Astrology also plays an important part in these stories.  If you have ever wanted to learn more about birth charts and how the planets influence your life, this is a fun way to get a beginner course.  If astrology is not your thing, I would still encourage you to read this if you like animals or an adorable cafe.  I will warn you that I cried at the end.

Bonus points for Rin.  What a wonderful friend!

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