Pages: 318Published: 21st June 2022Genre: FantasyContent warnings: Domestic abuse, sexual references, misogyny A gruesome curse. A city in upheaval. A monster with unquenchable appetites. Marlinchen and her two sisters live with their wizard father in a city shifting from magic to industry. As Oblya’s last true witches, she and her sisters are little more than … Continue reading Book Review – Juniper And Thorn by Ava Reid
Pages: 388Published: 13th January 2022Genre: MysteryContent warnings: Missing person storyline Forty years ago, Steven Smith found a copy of a famous children's book, its margins full of strange markings and annotations. He took it to his remedial English teacher, Miss Isles, who became convinced it was the key to solving a puzzle. That a message … Continue reading Book Review – The Twyford Code by Janice Hallett
Pages: 544Published: 26th September 2023Genre: Historical Science Fiction/FantasyContent warnings: Violence, injury detail Winter is drawing thick in 1932 Shanghai, as is the ever-nearing threat of a Japanese invasion. Rosalind Lang has suffered the worst possible fate for a national spy: she’s been exposed. With the media storm camped outside her apartment for the infamous Lady … Continue reading Book Review – Foul Heart Huntsman by Chloe Gong
Hello everyone, It was International Women's Day on Sunday and at work, I used my love of books to create a set of posters with my female author recommendations for different genres. It was an extremely fun project, and a great opportunity to incorporate my love of books into my day job! I made six … Continue reading Author Recommendations for International Women’s Day
Pages: 334Published: 2nd April 2020Genre: Domestic thrillerContent warnings: Domestic violence, blackmail, missing person sub-plot Ursula, Gareth and Alice have never met before. Ursula thinks she killed the love of her life.Gareth’s been receiving strange postcards.And Alice is being stalked. None of them are used to relying on others – but when the three strangers’ lives unexpectedly collide, there’s only … Continue reading Book Review – Strangers by C.L. Taylor
Hello everyone, We have made it to March and it is officially springtime here in the UK. There are not many people happier than I am about that, but true to form, here I am to dampen the mood by talking about the most unsettling books I have read. My list does not include books … Continue reading Top Five Most Unsettling Books I Have Read
Pages: 389Published: 25th February 2025Genre: Domestic Thriller It is June 21st, the longest day of the year, and new mother Camilla’s life is about to change forever. After months of maternity leave, she will drop her infant daughter off at daycare for the first time and return to her job as a literary agent. Finally. But, when she … Continue reading Book Review – Famous Last Words by Gillian McAllister
Hello everyone, Today I wanted to share some of the books that I am hoping to read in 2026. Some are upcoming releases, but most have been on my TBR for varying lengths of time. One of my bookish New Year resolutions was to read more books by new-to-me authors, and there is a reasonable … Continue reading Books On My 2026 TBR
Welcome to Stephen Reads Books! Here I introduce myself, my favourite reads, and what you can expect to find on my site.
My review of The Black Feathers by Rebecca Netley, a Gothic, atmospheric ghost story with a house full of mysterious characters and secrets.
Stephen Reads Books 