Reviews | Frankie Literates

Welcome to Frankie Literates

I’m never good with introductions. Honestly the thought of writing such is as daunting as providing a cover letter for a new job.

I never know what to say, how to present myself. Do I give an honest opinion or do I keep the skeletons locked in the closet? It is a rite of passage I’m sure everyone has gone through in their life and still do.

So? How should I start?

Well I guess I could just start with a welcome. Welcome to Frankie Literates, a blog where I will be providing you insight on the books that have peaked my interest and possibly your own.

Hope you like it.

TRAIN OF THOUGHT

Tension, Unexpected Outcomes and Pure Satisfaction

Rating 5/5 Happy New Year and what a better way to end 2025 than a review on the final tale in Jay Kristoff’s Empire of The Vampire trilogy. Originally, I had intended to sink my teeth into Empire of The Dawn at a later date. But after finishing Empire of The Damned I just had to know how it was all going to end for Gabriel de León and Celene Castia. Looking over my year’s reading journey, this is the first trilogy I’ve finished. It has been a superbly tense ride with ever

Dec 31, 20253 min read

Killers, Laughter and Messed up Romance

Rating 4/5 Do not judge me for this one. Honestly, I’m as surprised with myself as anyone else. But then again whoever may be reading this post might understand my decision to talk about Brynne Weaver’s dark romance, Tourist Season (2025). I suppose it does give everyone a break from my obsessive love for all things fantastical and/or horrific. Considering my prior experience with book one of Weaver’s Ruinous Love trilogy (2023-2025), Butcher and Blackbird I did expect some

Nov 29, 20253 min read

Violence, Facts, Repeat

Rating 2/5 Keeping to my spooky tradition I’ve chosen to base this month’s post on Eric LaRocca’s recent release, We Are Always Tender With Our Dead (2025), book one of their new trilogy. If you haven’t heard of LaRocca’s work, it can be described as transgressive horror. And when I mean ‘transgressive’ I mean very twisted and extreme so for those faint of heart be wary if you consider delving into LaRocca’s world. Much like LaRocca’s story collections, We Are Always Tender

Oct 28, 20252 min read