Tale of the Flying Forest by R.M. Romero

Tale of the Flying Forest  by R.M. Romero
Rating: 3 stars
Release Date: October 15, 2024
Format: eBook (Library)  + ARC (from Publisher)
Publisher: Little Brown Books for Young Readers

Tale of the Flying Forest by R.M. Romero delivers on its promise of being a Jewish take on Narnia, with plenty of folktale and fairytale influences. It's also reminiscent of Alice in Wonderland at times. While I found it a little difficult to stay engaged while reading, the illustrations added to the story’s charm and worldbuilding. I also enjoyed the third-person narration, particularly the moments when the narrator broke the fourth wall to address the reader directly.

I appreciated the book’s strong focus on family, kindness and representation. I can also see the Hansel and Gretel comparisons, though the story feels more like Gretel following clues through a magical forest to piece together the story of a lost brother (Hansel) she’s never met.

Overall, this was an enjoyable middle grade read with some interesting ideas, even if it didn’t quite leave a lasting impression on me.

REVIEW Twisted Road (Torpedo Ink #10) by Christine Feehan

Twisted Road (Torpedo Ink #10) by Christine Feehan
Rating: 4 Stars
Release Date: July 7, 2026
Format: eBook (Kindle, Own Library)
Publisher: Berkley

Christine Feehan's Twisted Road, the latest book in the Torpedo Ink series, opens up with a bang and I was all here for it. Main characters Lyric and Keys wake up in a coffin on the back of the truck (headed towards a very bad fate if they do not escape), and readers have to progressively go back and learn how they got to that point in the first place. That delivers more suspense, twists and turns, and an even bigger network of interconnected bad guys as the club continues to work to unravel the Ghosts and work their way towards finding 'the Russian'. 

All of the members of the club have scars (both physical and mental) from their time in Sorbacov's 'school', and Keys is no different. He comes across as wearing a mask most of the time to protect himself, and while he's seen many of his brothers find their people he didn't believe it was something worth pursuing for himself until he met Lyric. 

I really liked Lyric's character. This is the first time that I can recall in any of Christine Feehan's books that she has had a neurodivergent character as a lead. Lyric has learned to be on her own after her family made her feel broken for the way that her brain works (i.e. she doesn't recognize social cues unless someone explains it to her). I appreciated how fiercely Keys fought to remind Lyric that she wasn't broken, that he worked with her differences instead of against them, and that in a way their jagged puzzle pieces fit together. 

Overall, this was an excellent book and I'm hopeful that the publisher will continue to allow her to write more. I really want to see Lana and Alena find love in the future, and I really want to see Pierce from the Diamondbacks finally receive the retaliation for all the hurt he caused Alena. This is a paranormal romance with adult themes, so not recommended for anyone under 18 in my opinion. While you could read the books out of order or individually and still follow the story, I do recomend reading the series in order for the best experience (and the most details on things like what the Ghosts are doing, and how long Torpedo Ink has been working to shut them down).