One of my goals this year is to help you spend less time wondering what to read next and more time actually reading.

This week's releases took me from the courts of ancient Egypt to Regency ballrooms, magical baking competitions, haunted forests, remote cabins, and even a city run entirely by animals.

As always, these are just my personal reactions. A book that didn't work for me may end up being your next five-star read, and a book I loved might completely miss the mark for someone else.

Let's get into it.

👑 Isis of Egypt: Goddess of Thrones by Malayna Evans

Read or Skip: READ

Rating: 4.25 stars

After years of Greek mythology retellings dominating bookshelves, Isis of Egypt felt like a breath of fresh air.

This novel reimagines the story of Isis, goddess of magic, as she searches for her lost husband Osiris while navigating betrayals, rival gods, and the future of Egypt itself.

What stood out most to me was the atmosphere. Evans creates a version of ancient Egypt that feels vibrant and alive, filled with rich descriptions, colorful imagery, and divine figures who feel both larger-than-life and surprisingly human. I loved seeing familiar gods and goddesses portrayed with unique personalities and quirks that made them feel approachable without losing their power.

The prose is lyrical without becoming inaccessible, and the story does an excellent job introducing Egyptian mythology to readers who may not already be familiar with it. Through Isis's perspective, readers naturally learn about the world, its gods, beliefs, and traditions without ever feeling like they're sitting through a history lesson.

I was also impressed by the pacing. The novel spans enormous stretches of time, yet never feels rushed or bogged down. Instead, it successfully captures the immortal perspective of the gods while still maintaining momentum.

Final thought: If you've been wanting a mythology retelling that steps outside the Greek pantheon, this is an excellent place to start. Beautiful prose, fascinating mythology, and a compelling heroine make this a standout addition to the genre.

💌 The Very Definition of Love by Sophia Benoit

Read or Skip: READ

Rating: 4.75 stars

This was billed as Bridgerton meets Emily Henry, and for once, the marketing comparison actually delivered.

Lady Harriet would much rather spend her time compiling a slang dictionary than searching for a husband. Unfortunately, a scandalous misunderstanding leaves her compromised with the infamous Lord Alexander, forcing the pair into a marriage of convenience.

Naturally, their plan to keep things strictly practical goes spectacularly off the rails.

Harriet completely stole my heart. She's intelligent, endlessly curious, delightfully awkward, and refreshingly unapologetic about wanting to learn everything she can about the world around her. Whether she's researching slang, asking scandalous questions, or pursuing her latest obsession, she approaches life with such enthusiasm that she became one of my favorite romance heroines of the year.

And Alexander? For someone who claims he isn't capable of love, he spends an awful lot of time absolutely worshipping his wife.

The chemistry between these two is phenomenal. The banter sparkles, the tension is delicious, and the yearning had me grinning more than once. Their romance feels both swoony and emotionally satisfying, helped by the fact that both characters are carrying complicated family dynamics that add real depth to their emotional journeys.

I also have to mention the writing. The Regency setting remains intact, but the dialogue feels fresh, sharp, and genuinely funny. It's the kind of historical romance that feels approachable for newer readers while still delivering everything longtime Regency fans love.

Final thought: Charming, funny, romantic, and full of heart. This is one of the most enjoyable historical romances I've read this year, and I already can't wait to see what Sophia Benoit writes next.

🖤 Night Witch by Jaymin Eve

Read or Skip: SKIP

Rating: 3 stars

This is one of those sequels that left me frustrated because I could clearly see the version of the story I wanted to love.

The first book introduced a fascinating magic system, complicated family dynamics, rival magical families, and plenty of mystery surrounding both the world and its characters. I finished it excited to see how everything would come together.

Unfortunately, Nightwitch tries to resolve so many storylines so quickly that very little has room to breathe.

The pacing was my biggest issue. Major events, revelations, confrontations, and world-altering developments arrive one after another with almost no time to process them. Instead of building tension, the final portion of the novel felt like it was racing through a checklist of plot points before the finish line.

The romance also didn't fully work for me. While I enjoyed the mystery and tension between Paisley and Logan in the first book, the progression here felt abrupt. The story leans heavily into fated-mates energy and instant devotion, which isn't typically my favorite trope. I wanted more time watching their relationship develop before reaching the level of all-consuming commitment the book asks readers to buy into.

That said, Logan was easily my favorite part of the story. If you're looking for a protective, touch-her-and-die hero, he absolutely delivers. His loyalty is unquestionable, and I can easily see readers falling head over heels for him.

Final thought: Readers who love fast-paced paranormal romance, fated mates, magical academies, and fiercely protective heroes will likely have a great time here. For me, the rushed pacing and underdeveloped emotional beats kept the story from reaching its full potential.

Also Hitting Shelves This Week

Didn't see your next read above? Here are a few other releases arriving this week that caught my attention.

🌾 Whisper Creek by Allison Brennan

A family struggling to save their Texas farm becomes trapped between devastating storms, mounting tensions, and a mystery that turns increasingly dangerous.

I'm only about 20% into this one, but I'm already addicted. If you love family-centered thrillers, rural settings, and stories where nature is just as dangerous as the people involved, this one deserves a look.

Pick this up if you enjoy: family drama, survival thrillers, rural mysteries, and high-stakes suspense.

🥖 All We Hunger For by Anna Mercier

A magical baking competition determines political power in a divided city, and a young woman from the slums risks everything to compete.

This sounds like a perfect blend of fantasy, romance, and revolution.

Pick this up if you enjoy: magical competitions, political fantasy, slow-burn romance, and A Magic Steeped in Poison.

🏴‍☠️ A Scandal of the Summer by Alexandra Vasti

A rebellious heiress hiding out for the summer collides with a charming smuggler posing as staff at an abandoned estate.

The setup alone sounds ridiculously fun.

Pick this up if you enjoy: Regency romance, pirates, fake identities, witty banter, and summer adventures.

📚 Checking You Out by Jennifer Chen

Two teens fall for each other through notes hidden in library books while completely misunderstanding each other in real life.

Honestly, this sounds adorable.

Pick this up if you enjoy: libraries, books-about-books, academic rivals, secret identities, and wholesome YA romance.

⚔️ Asperfell by Jamie Thomas

A young woman escapes execution by fleeing into a legendary prison for mages and must convince an exiled prince to help her survive.

The premise gives me classic fantasy adventure vibes with a dash of romance.

Pick this up if you enjoy: magical prisons, exiled royalty, dark fantasy, and reluctant allies.

🦝 Green City Wars by Adrian Tchaikovsky

Philip Marlowe meets Redwall. Need I say more?

A raccoon private investigator searches for a missing mouse in a futuristic city populated by genetically engineered animals.

Pick this up if you enjoy: noir mysteries, anthropomorphic animals, detective stories, and wildly original concepts.

🌲 Little Wild by Laura Evans

A young woman is banished to a remote cabin after her forbidden relationship is discovered, only to find herself haunted by strange dreams and something awakening deep within the woods.

I'm currently about 30% into this one and completely intrigued.

Pick this up if you enjoy: historical horror, feminist folklore, queer stories, atmospheric settings, and slow-building dread.

🔪 Slasher Summer by EL Chen

A group of former friends reunites at the filming location of a cult 1980s slasher movie, only to discover someone wants to make the experience terrifyingly real. This sounds like pure popcorn horror.

Pick this up if you enjoy: slasher movies, nostalgia horror, friend reunions gone wrong, and campy horror fun.

🌫️ Rainsong by Lila Riesen

A fog-covered coastal town, a missing girl, supernatural powers, and a mystery tied to generations of secrets.

This one sounds tailor-made for readers who love atmospheric YA thrillers.

Pick this up if you enjoy: supernatural mysteries, small-town secrets, missing-person stories, and angsty romance.

This week feels like a great example of how varied publishing can be.

Whether you're looking for mythology retellings, historical romance, magical competitions, atmospheric horror, paranormal romance, or a raccoon private investigator solving crimes in a city of genetically engineered animals, there's probably something here for you.

My personal favorites were The Very Definition of Love and Isis of Egypt, but I'm also very curious to see where Whisper Creek and Little Wild go from here.