Review: Don’t Let the Forest In

June 30, 2026

3/5

While I ultimately didn't find the plot to be as satisfying as I'd hoped, that doesn't mean this book is without its merit. Author C.G. Drews is a talented writer and despite losing interest in the story here and there, I always found the prose to be poetic and strong. Notably, their descriptions of the forest and its elements really stood out. Every time it crept off the pages and came to life in a way that felt like you could feel, smell, and taste it. Conversely, their monsters were a bit lackluster. Easily defeated and never present long enough to sustain the tension. I would have preferred them to be more haunting and for there to be more consequence to their existence.

Nick Pollifrone
Book cover for The Entanglement of Rival Wizards with four stars and the text: "Angsty, but with the right amount of fire."

Review: The Entanglement of Rival Wizards

June 11, 2026

4.2/5

I hate to admit it, I really do, but: I totally judge a book by its cover. Judge me for it, but a cover is the first gateway into the book's world. Bad cover and you've already lost my interest. I have definitely been deceived by a great cover once or twice in my time, but it at least got me to buy the book. That was the case here. I loved the art. It's fun and playful and immediately says, "Queer Romance." While I'm thankful that queer novels have found themselves on the shelves with all the other titles in their genre, I want to easily be able to identify the subject matter by it's cover—which is how Rival Wizards grabbed my attention.

Nick Pollifrone

A Gray in a Gold World

October 15, 2018

A conversation with Red Rising author, Pierce Brown It’s not every day that you get to sit down and interview someone whose work you admire. I first heard about Pierce Brown’s debut novel Red Rising while listening to the radio. I had tuned into the Elvis Duran morning show on Z100, and one of the […]

Nick Pollifrone