BBNYA 2025 Finalist Tour: By Hook & Crook by S.G. Karam

February 12, 2026 kerrimcbooknerd1 Comment

Hello, reader!

In 2025, I once again participated as a panelist for the Book Bloggers’ Novel of the Year Award! It was a tough competition but we eventually narrowed it down a group of finalists. Now, those finalists are on tour! Today, I’ll be sharing my review for a book perfect for lovers of a good heist: By Hook & Crook by S.G. Karam!

But, before I go on, let me tell you more about this award. BBNYA is a yearly competition where book bloggers from all over the world read and score books written by indie authors, ending with, typically, 15 finalists (though we had 17 in 2025) and one overall winner. If you are an author and wish to learn more about the BBNYA competition, you can visit the official website http://www.bbnya.com or Twitter @bbnya_official. BBNYA is brought to you in association with the @Foliosociety (if you love beautiful books, you NEED to check out their website!) and the book blogger support group @The_WriteReads.

And, now, let’s talk about the book 📚

Title: By Hook & Crook
Author: S.G. Haram
Publisher: Chymist Press
Publication date: November 15th, 2024
Length: 364 pages
Genre: Science Fiction/Fantasy
Age group: Adult

Book Links

Amazon::StoryGraph::Goodreads

What if robbing a vault earned you a standing ovation?

In the city of Azoria, heists are a sanctioned sport, a dazzling spectacle where only the boldest thieves thrive. And Lars Harrow is the best.

But Lars wants more than fame. He wants the heist that will cement his legacy and put him beyond the reach of the city’s power brokers. When a shadowy patron offers him a job targeting Cecil Thume—the ruthless mastermind who controls every theft in Azoria—Lars sees his shot at something bigger.

Yet the deeper he digs, the more dangerous the game becomes. A brutal murder sends a clear message: Thume isn’t just profiting from the city’s underworld… he is the underworld. And he’ll do whatever it takes to keep control.

As the line between thief and pawn blurs, Lars must decide how much he’s willing to risk. The city, his crew, and his own future hang in the balance.

If you enjoyed books like Six of Crows, Mistborn, or The Lies of Locke Lamora, you won’t be able to put down this electrifying tale of ambition, greed, betrayal, and redemption.

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goodreads monday

Goodreads/TBR Monday: February 9th, 2026

February 9, 2026 kerrimcbooknerd4 Comments

Goodreads Monday/TBR Monday is a bookish meme hosted by Emily @ Budget Tales Book Blog invites you to post about what books are on your Goodreads “to read” lists or TBR lists, the progress you have made on your current books and reading challenges, and any other bookish news!

Hello, reader!

Goodreads Monday is, once again, upon us. Another new start to the week and another random book pulled from my Goodreads “Want to Read” shelf. Which is down to 831 books this week… two down from last week! I mean, one of those is the book I removed from last week, but still!

Let’s see what I’ll pull this week 😊

Random Goodreads Pick

Book:
The Blood Trials

Author:
N.E. Davenport

Publisher:
Harper Voyager

Publication Date:
April 5th, 20222

Pages:
448

Genre:
Science Fiction/Fantasy

Synopsis:
Blending fantasy and science fiction, N. E. Davenport’s fast-paced, action-packed debut kicks off a duology of loyalty and rebellion, in which a young Black woman must survive deadly trials in a racist and misogynistic society to become an elite warrior.

It’s all about blood.

The blood spilled between the Republic of Mareen and the armies of the Blood Emperor long ago. The blood gifts of Mareen’s deadliest enemies. The blood that runs through the elite War Houses of Mareen, the rulers of the Tribunal dedicated to keeping the republic alive.

The blood of the former Legatus, Verne Amari, murdered.

For his granddaughter, Ikenna, the only thing steady in her life was the man who had saved Mareen. The man who had trained her in secret, not just in martial skills, but in harnessing the blood gift that coursed through her.

Who trained her to keep that a secret.

But now there are too many secrets, and with her grandfather assassinated, Ikenna knows two things: that only someone on the Tribunal could have ordered his death, and that only a Praetorian Guard could have carried out that order.

Bent on revenge as much as discovering the truth, Ikenna pledges herself to the Praetorian Trials–a brutal initiation that only a quarter of the aspirants survive. She subjects herself to the racism directed against her half-Khanaian heritage and the misogyny of a society that cherishes progeny over prodigy, all while hiding a power that–if found out–would subject her to execution…or worse. Ikenna is willing to risk it all because she needs to find out who murdered her grandfather…and then she needs to kill them.

Mareen has been at peace for a long time…

Ikenna joining the Praetorians is about to change all that.

Magic and technology converge in the first part of this stunning debut duology, where loyalty to oneself–and one’s blood–is more important than anything.

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www wednesday

WWW Wednesday: February 4th, 2026

February 4, 2026 kerrimcbooknerd3 Comments

It’s time for another WWW Wednesday! This is a bookish meme hosted by Taking on a World of Words where bloggers answer the 3 Ws:

What are you currently reading?
What did you recently finish reading?
What do you think you’ll read next?

If you’d like to learn more about any of these books, click on the cover to be taken to the Goodreads page.

Current Reads

Hidden Figures by Margot Lee Shetterly: I’m really getting into this one now that it’s my main physical read! The author’s writing is really sucking me into the story of these “Black Computers” that worked to help our nation’s space race. It also makes me boil with rage to read about all the injustices they were facing even though they were just as good as (if not better) than their white counterparts. Like, I know that, was a thing (and is still a thing), so you would think I’d be used to it, but the rage still comes, heh. I suppose that is the author doing her job well!
The Things We Do to Our Friends by Heather Darwent: Oh my god, I am so BORED. It’s just a bunch of rich people (and one wanna-be) being unhinged and I don’t caaaaare. I’ve just arrived at part two after a plot point finally decided to make an entrance, so I’m hoping things pick up from here. Please…
The Best American Science Fiction and Fantasy 2022 edited by Rebecca Roanhorse: I’ve read the first two stories in this collection and I’m happy to report that I loved both of them! This is a good omen for how I’m going to enjoy the rest of this anthology. Fingers crossed that they continue to be stellar.

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top ten tuesday

Top Ten Tuesday: Book Covers Featuring Pretty/Unique Typography

February 3, 2026February 8, 2026 kerrimcbooknerd2 Comments

Top Ten Tuesday was created by The Broke and the Bookish back in June 2010. It is currently hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl and, as is stated on the blog, it was “born of a love of lists, a love of books, and a desire to bring bookish friends together.”

Hello, reader!

I’m a sucker for a pretty cover. I have picked up many books simply because I thought the cover was beautiful. But I have to admit, I don’t often pay that much attention to the typography. That’s why I’m excited to participate in today’s Top Ten Tuesday! We’re looking for book covers with pretty/cool/unique typography and I’ve decided to go through my “read” shelf on Goodreads to see what I can find.

Keep reading to see which ones I picked out!

Books With Pretty/Unique Typography

Small Spaces by Katherine Arden: I love the typography on this one. A typography that blends into the overall image on the cover will always make me pay attention. I just think it looks so cohesive and lovely.
Winter’s Orbit by Everina Maxwell: Again, the typography is working really well with the cover image, though more so in color as opposed to positioning/font. It’s visually appealing to me in a way that captures my attention.
White Smoke by Tiffany D. Jackson: This is like a blend of the first two where the typography uses both font and a bit of blending to really incorporate into the cover image. I like that the letters kind of fade into the background at points.
The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry by Gabrielle Zevin: Now this one I chose because I just think the typography is pretty 🥹 I can’t even pinpoint why I love it so much, but I do!
Delicious Monsters by Liselle Sambury: The font on this one is pretty straightforward and bland, but I love the way that it interacts with the rest of the cover image. Just *chef’s kiss*

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goodreads monday

Goodreads/TBR Monday: February 2nd, 2026

February 2, 2026 kerrimcbooknerd4 Comments

Hello, reader!

It’s the start of another week, so it’s time for another Goodreads Monday! Time to leaf through my excessively large Goodreads TBR (currently sitting at 833 books 🤡) and pick a random book to highlight. Participating in this meme has been fun because I’m re-discovering books I had completely forgotten I wanted to read, haha. I am forever skilled at putting books on my TBR… not so great at actually reading them.

Let’s see what random book we get today!

Random Goodreads Pick

Book:
Fire & Sword

Author:
Dylan Doose

Publisher:
Spawning Pool Studios

Publication Date:
September 1st, 2015

Pages:
330

Genre:
Fantasy

Synopsis:
Three men condemned to die: Aldous Weaver, a lonely heretic monk turned sorcerer, is imprisoned for accidentally incinerating the leader of his order. Kendrick the Cold, an infamous crusader turned fugitive, is a villain who knows he can never be a hero. Theron Ward, an aristocrat with a penchant for slaughtering monsters, is a legend in his own mind.

A broken nation in need of a savior: Ravaged by plague, decimated by dark magic, Brynth is infiltrated by a foreign evil seeking to dominate from within.

An unlikely bond forged in the furnace of chaos: Three criminals become comrades when faced with the choice to escape the land that cries for their execution or, with fire and sword, march forth against the greater evil.

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monthly tbr

February 2026 TBR

January 29, 2026March 9, 2026 kerrimcbooknerd7 Comments

Hello, reader!

If you’ve been around the blog awhile, you probably know that I’m not typically a big monthly TBR person. That’s because, at heart, I am and will always be a mood reader. There’s something about setting a TBR that makes my mood reader brain immediately wants to read something else, lol. The thing is, though, that I’m also extremely indecisive. I have so many options for books (over 300 unread books on my TBR… and that’s just the physical ones 🫠) so when I let my mood dictate my read, I stand staring at my bookshelf for ages and can’t make a decision!

So I’m gonna do a little experiment! I’m going to try setting up monthly TBRs in 2026 but they are not going to be strict TBRs. I suppose that makes them more of “monthly hopefuls”, but I’m still going to call them TBRs. Hopefully this will work much better for my weird little brain, haha.

With that being said, let me share with you my February TBR!

The Book Club Reads

There are three online book clubs that I participate in on a semi-regular basis: the Weirdo Book Club, the Always Fully Booked (AFB) Book Club, and the Literally Dead Book Club. There are months where I’m not interested in the book picked, of course, but in February I’m intrigued by all three. Hopefully I can squeeze them all in!

Weirdo Book Club
- I Who Have Never Known Men by Jacqueline Harpman
- I have seen this book talked about all over the place, so I’m happy to jump on-board the book club read. It sounds weird and intriguing, which kind of makes it perfect for Weirdo Book Club!
AFB Book Club
- One by One by Ruth Ware
- I’m not gonna lie, Ruth Ware had a bit of a falling out after I started reading her backlist because I enjoyed The Turn of the Key so much. I just haven’t liked any of the other books I’ve read from her as much as that one! I’m happy to give her another chance, though… perhaps this will be the one to blow me away.
Literally Dead Book Club
- How to Kill a Guy in Ten Dates by Shailee Thompson
- I was on the fence about whether or not I wanted to read this one, but then it popped up as an add-on through Book of the Month and it found its way into my box somehow 😂 This is why my physical TBR is ridiculous, y’all! Still, this does sound intriguing and this will help me read my BotM book the same month I got it!

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www wednesday

WWW Wednesday: January 28th, 2026

January 28, 2026 kerrimcbooknerd1 Comment

It’s time for another WWW Wednesday! This is a bookish meme hosted by Taking on a World of Words where bloggers answer the 3 Ws:

What are you currently reading?
What did you recently finish reading?
What do you think you’ll read next?

If you’d like to learn more about any of these books, click on the cover to be taken to the Goodreads page.

Current Reads

Solomon’s Crown by Natasha Siegel: I finally picked the audiobook back up and the action/drama has certainly ramped up! These two doomed idiots are keeping me on the edge of my seat. I don’t know if I was just feeling anxious and that’s why I couldn’t handle the angst, but now I’m back on board, haha.
Carl’s Doomsday Scenario by Matt Dinniman: It feels so good to be back in Carl’s world! I mean… Carl’s world is just getting increasingly more dire, but I’m having a good time 😂 Can I just say, I love a main character that is both strong and clever. Carl certainly fits the bill! It’s a treat watching him think up these half-baked plans that are truly creative. I’m eager to dive back into this one!
Hidden Figures by Margot Lee Shetterly: I quite literally just started this book today (as in, I just got through the prologue) so I don’t have a lot a thoughts about it yet. I’m enjoying the author’s tone, though. Tone is so important to me when it comes to non-fiction. If it reads like a textbook, I’m going to bored the entire time, even if the information is fascinating. Give me a narrative non-fiction any day.

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top ten tuesday

Top Ten Tuesday: New-To-Me Authors From 2025

January 27, 2026 kerrimcbooknerd5 Comments

Hello, reader!

Though 2025 was a bit all over the place, I did read some incredible books last year. I also read quite a few new-to-me authors that I’m eager to read more from in 2026. So today’s Top Ten Tuesday theme, 2025 Bookish Discoveries, gives me the perfect opportunity to share them with you! Quite a few of these are authors that have been around for ages, but I finally picked them up in 2025. Some of them are debut authors that captured my imagination with their first novel. All of them make me want to read more!

Now, let’s get to the list.

2025 New-To-Me Authors

Kylie Lee Baker
B.K. Borison
Costanza Casati
Delilah S. Dawson
Tananarive Due

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goodreads monday

Goodreads/TBR Monday: January 26th, 2026

January 26, 2026 kerrimcbooknerd4 Comments

Hello, reader!

Well, for once the meteorologists got it right and we got absolutely dumped on here in New England. Not the most snow that I’ve ever seen, but there’s quite a bit! So, while I’m waiting to go into work since we’re on a delay (the joys of working in healthcare… no snow days), I figured I would do my Goodreads Monday post!

I hope all of you who also got a ton of snow are staying warm and safe.

Random Goodreads Pick

Book:
Vinegar Girl

Author:
Anne Tyler

Publisher:
Hogarth

Publication Date:
June 1st, 2016

Pages:
237

Genre:
Literary Fiction/Romance/Retelling

Synopsis:
Pulitzer Prize winner and American master Anne Tyler brings us an inspired, witty and irresistible contemporary take on one of Shakespeare’s most beloved comedies.

Kate Battista feels stuck. How did she end up running house and home for her eccentric scientist father and uppity, pretty younger sister Bunny? Plus, she’s always in trouble at work – her pre-school charges adore her, but their parents don’t always appreciate her unusual opinions and forthright manner.

Dr. Battista has other problems. After years out in the academic wilderness, he is on the verge of a breakthrough. His research could help millions. There’s only one problem: his brilliant young lab assistant, Pyotr, is about to be deported. And without Pyotr, all would be lost.

When Dr. Battista cooks up an outrageous plan that will enable Pyotr to stay in the country, he’s relying – as usual – on Kate to help him. Kate is furious: this time he’s really asking too much. But will she be able to resist the two men’s touchingly ludicrous campaign to bring her around?

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book reviews

Book Review: Dungeon Crawler Carl by Matt Dinniman

January 22, 2026 kerrimcbooknerd4 Comments

Title: Dungeon Crawler Carl
Series: Dungeon Crawler Carl #1
Author: Matt Dinniman
Publisher: Ace
Genre: Fantasy/LitRPG
Age Group: Adult
Format: Physical
Content/Trigger Warnings: Blood, gore, violence, parental abandonment & child abuse recounted, slavery, infidelity, alcohol & drug abuse, mass murder
Book Links: Bookshop::B&N::Amazon::Goodreads::Storygraph

The apocalypse will be televised! Welcome to the first book in the wildly popular and addictive Dungeon Crawler Carl series—now with bonus material exclusive to this print edition.

You know what’s worse than breaking up with your girlfriend? Being stuck with her prize-winning show cat. And you know what’s worse than that? An alien invasion, the destruction of all man-made structures on Earth, and the systematic exploitation of all the survivors for a sadistic intergalactic game show. That’s what.

Join Coast Guard vet Carl and his ex-girlfriend’s cat, Princess Donut, as they try to survive the end of the world—or just get to the next level—in a video game–like, trap-filled fantasy dungeon. A dungeon that’s actually the set of a reality television show with countless viewers across the galaxy. Exploding goblins. Magical potions. Deadly, drug-dealing llamas. This ain’t your ordinary game show.

Welcome, Crawler. Welcome to the Dungeon. Survival is optional. Keeping the viewers entertained is not.

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