Banned Bibliophile

There are so many books out there eagerly waiting to be read. Unfortunately, many are sitting on shelves and collecting dust. It's impossible to get to them all, but there are definitely some that deserve more exposure. In the past few years, I've been branching out and reading books from lesser known publishers and works that have been self-published. Undoubtedly, there are hidden gems I wish more people knew about.  Thus, I've decided to share some books that I personally enjoyed and that I hope someone else out there will love, too. So, without further ado, welcome to Banned Bibliophiles' new segment:  Books That Need More Love . Best, The Curious Quill Official Summary: The slow collapse of the British Empire in the nineteenth century meant opportunity for anyone with ammunition and wit. Now the Wildensterns are by far the most powerful family--and the most ruthless. Trained from childhood in the arts of assassination and cons...

Rating: 3.5/5 Premise: Kill the  Babysitter   takes place in 2019 yet promises the fun of a retro horror film set 40 years ago. High schooler Jane never aspired to be a  babysitter , but when she sees the dollar signs that can come with the job, she takes her inexperienced tush and hikes it over to the Harker house, where she's introduced to three headstrong, semi-disturbing children. Among Ms. Harker's laundry list of rules is her explicit refusal to allow her kids to play with the Ouija board, but Jane's broken down by continuously bad behavior and allows the children to pull the spirit board off the shelf. While it seems harmless enough, the Harker brood introduces her to Zed, a mischievous "spirit" who grants your every wish if you let him have a little fun. With all Jane's dreams coming true, our protagonist feels on top of the world until Zed's next game is all about unaliving the  babysitter . The only way to survive the night might require Jane to ...

Rating: 4.5/5 I’m so excited to celebrate the first day of pride month by releasing my review for Oak King Holly King!!!! Sebastian Nothwell is an author who holds a special place on my shelves. I was first introduced to his work when I stumbled across Mr. Warren’s Profession. As someone who wasn’t a fan of historical romance, this book drew me in and began my journey into queer historical literature. When Sebastian reached out asking if I’d like to receive a digital review copy of Oak King Holly King, I couldn’t say yes fast enough. It’s not every day that an author you admire reaches out to provide a review copy. (It was one of the most exciting things in the world, and I can’t thank him enough.) As I began to read Oak King Holly King, I knew it was going to rank highly in my favorite books of 2024. I haven’t read anything similar to it in recent memory. This book has a fascinating structure that drew me in. I can’t quite put my finger on how to appropriately convey it— the closest d...

Rating: 4.5/5 There are times when you read a book and it genuinely touches your heart. The characters are raw with realism, the plot claws its way into your bloodstream, and, word by word, you find the story consuming your soul.  Awakening  is one of those books. It feels so deeply intimate that you think you’ve discovered something special, something you want to desperately share with the world but can’t help but want to selfishly keep guarded as well. Exceptional in its exploration of grief, self-acceptance, and love, this epic series starter is one you won’t want to miss.  When you’re eager to sing a book’s praises, it’s hard to know where to begin, so I’ll start with what impressed me the most: character depth. When a novel’s characters leave an impression that is so real -- one where your heart beats in rhythm to their own fictional palpitations, ebbing and flowing based on a spectrum ranging from blissful happiness to oppressive despair -- magic happens. Burke craf...

  Reviewer:  The Banned Bibliophile Received:  Physical Copy from Publisher Release Date:  November  2018 Moons:  4/5 Goodreads Summary: Fourteen-year-old Peter Green can't remember how he died. All he has are his pajamas, a silk tie, and a one-way bus ticket to Mrs. Battisworth's Academy and Haven for Unliving Boys and Girls, a strange and spooky school for dead orphans like himself. But that's all he needs: the Unliving Academy has everything, from vampires in the hallways, to monsters in the cafeteria, to ghosts in the basement. And that's just the teachers; the students are  far stranger. As Pete learns to fit in with his new supernatural schoolmates, he starts to discover his own uniquely undead abilities, and even begins enjoying his life after death...but he just can't shake the feeling that he's forgotten something (or somebody!) important. Somebody he left behind in the land of the living. Somebody he loved very much. Somebody who's in terribl...

Reviewer: The Banned Bibliophile Received: Physical Copy from Publisher Release Date: August 2020 Moons: 4/5 Goodreads Summary: When a sorcerer and a scribe team up to fulfill an ancient prophecy, the fate of the world is in their hands. In the mythical kingdom of Salyndria, an exiled sorcerer named Leith plots to overthrow the restrictions placed on the use of magic by the Academy. Suspecting the worst, the Academy sends a beautiful young scribe, Kyler, to be his apprentice and act as an unwitting spy. Leith tries to drive her away by proving his reputation as a vicious and unforgiving master, but he soon discovers his new pupil is far more useful than she appears. As her charms and magical abilities become all too tempting for him to resist, the two join forces to fulfill a hidden prophecy that will grant them incredible power.  Together, the sorcerer and the scribe will change Salandria's history forever. Their story is equally sinister and sensual, a romantic dark fantasy adven...