Shows / Cyn's Workshop
Cyn's Workshop
The official podcast for Cyn's Workshop, a place for book lovers to listen to us discuss our latest read.
Episodes
Cyn's WorkshopWe Are Legion (We Are Bob): Sci-Fi, AI, Space Exploration & a Whole Lot of Bob
Today I’m reviewing We Are Legion (We Are Bob) by Dennis E. Taylor, the first book in the Bobiverse series—a sci-fi adventure that combines artificial…
Cyn's WorkshopHeir: Power, Legacy & a Brutal Return to the World of An Ember in the Ashes”
Today I’m reviewing Heir by Sabaa Tahir, the first book in a new duology set in the world of the An Ember in the Ashes series.Returning to this world means…
Cyn's WorkshopJuly Reading Wrap-Up: 14 Books, Vacation Reads & Getting My Reading Groove Back
It’s time for my July Reading Wrap-Up! 📚 After June’s reading fatigue hit me hard, July was all about getting back into the groove, tackling my TBR…
Cyn's WorkshopVicious Miscreations: Botanical Horror, Found Family & Arcane Meets Six of Crows
Today I’m reviewing Vicious Miscreations by Jenn Neal, the first book in The Fractured Worlds series—a New Adult dark urban fantasy pitched as Six of Crows…
Cyn's WorkshopThe Secret Astronomers: Pen Pals, Hidden Notes & a Beautifully Illustrated YA Story
Today I’m reviewing The Secret Astronomers by Jessica Walker—a visually striking YA novel that turns an old astronomy textbook into the heart of an intimate…
Cyn's WorkshopA Ballad of Falling Dragons: More Romance, More Revelations & THAT Cliffhanger
Today I’m reviewing A Ballad of Falling Dragons by Sarah A. Parker, the highly anticipated sequel to When the Moon Hatched—and while I didn’t love it quite as…
Cyn's WorkshopLocal Heavens: A Cyberpunk Great Gatsby Retelling That Absolutely Works
Today I’m reviewing Local Heavens—a bold cyberpunk reimagining of The Great Gatsby that captures the heart of the original while transforming it into something…
Cyn's WorkshopEvery Exquisite Thing: A Brilliant Dorian Gray Retelling That Completely Blew Me Away
Today I’m reviewing Every Exquisite Thing by Laura Steven—a stunning YA fantasy that reimagines The Picture of Dorian Gray with emotional depth, unforgettable…
Cyn's WorkshopOf Flame and Fury: Phoenix Racing, Rivals, and a Fiery Fantasy Adventure
Today I’m reviewing Of Flame and Fury—a unique fantasy that swaps dragons for phoenixes, delivering an action-packed story filled with rivalry, political…
Cyn's WorkshopThe Escape Game: Twists, Murder, and a Mystery I Couldn’t Put Down
Today I’m reviewing The Escape Game by Marissa Meyer—a fast-paced YA mystery that completely pulled me in from start to finish.Set against the backdrop of a…
Cyn's WorkshopThe Demonic Inventions of Aurelie Blake: Inventors, Demons, and One Brutal Cliffhanger
Today I’m reviewing The Demonic Inventions of Aurelie Blake by Mara Rutherford—a clever and imaginative fantasy that asks a terrifying question: what if every…
Cyn's WorkshopThe Flame in the Frost: Fae, Norse Mythology, and a Slow-Burn Romance Worth the Wait
Today I’m reviewing The Flame in the Frost—a fantasy romance that blends Norse mythology, fae politics, and a deliciously slow-burn romance into a surprisingly…
Cyn's WorkshopVoidwalker: Dark Magic, Ancient Powers, and a Hero Between Worlds
Today I’m reviewing Voidwalker—a dark fantasy packed with dangerous magic, high-stakes adventure, and secrets lurking beyond the edges of reality.Blending…
Cyn's WorkshopThe Verity Guild: Secrets, Magic, and a Mystery Worth Unraveling
Today I’m reviewing The Verity Guild—a fantasy mystery that blends secrets, intrigue, and magic into a story filled with hidden agendas and dangerous…
Cyn's WorkshopJune Reading Wrap-Up: Reader Fatigue, 10 Books Read & Some Unforgettable Favorites
It’s time for my June Reading Wrap-Up! This month was a little different than usual. After consistently reading 15–20 books a month, reader fatigue finally…
Cyn's WorkshopThe Executioner Prince: Cursed Royalty, Dark Magic, and a Prince Bound by Blood
Today I’m reviewing The Executioner Prince by Luden Gray—a dark fantasy filled with cursed princes, brutal secrets, and the devastating cost of loyalty.Thorne…
Cyn's WorkshopThe Stars Are Dying: Vampires, Deadly Trials, and a Romantasy That Divides Readers
Today I’m reviewing The Stars Are Dying by C.C. Peñaranda, the first installment in the Nytefall trilogy—a romantasy filled with vampires, deadly competitions…
Cyn's WorkshopThe Twelve: Zodiac Witches, Twin Sisters, and a Battle Between Light and Dark
Today I'm reviewing The Twelve by Joey Graceffa, a YA fantasy filled with zodiac magic, sisterhood, and destiny.When twin sisters Ophelia and Serena discover…
Cyn's WorkshopAll We Hunger For: Desire, Identity, and the Cost of Survival
Today I’m reviewing All We Hunger For—a haunting fantasy that explores hunger in all its forms: power, belonging, love, and survival. Rich with atmosphere and…
Cyn's WorkshopThe Chowder House Murder: Small-Town Secrets, Murder, and Cozy Mystery Charm
Today I’m reviewing The Chowder House Murder—a cozy mystery that serves up murder, small-town intrigue, and plenty of secrets alongside its seaside…
Cyn's WorkshopTristan and the Magestria: Cozy Fantasy Meets Queer Rom-Com… Kind Of
Today I’m reviewing Tristan and the Magestria—a queer cozy fantasy that mixes magic, romance, and whimsical adventure. While the premise had a lot of…
Cyn's WorkshopKingdom of Waves: Sea Magic, Political Intrigue, and Tides of Destiny
Today I’m reviewing Kingdom of Waves—a fantasy filled with oceanic magic, political tension, and the pull of destiny beneath the surface.This story blends…
Cyn's WorkshopMay Reading Wrap-Up: 15 Books Read, New Favorites & Unexpected Surprises
It’s time for my May Reading Wrap-Up! This month I read 15 books, falling just short of my 20-book goal but still discovering plenty of memorable stories along…
Cyn's WorkshopSibylline: Prophecy, Power, and the Burden of Knowing the Future
Today I’m reviewing Sibylline—a fantasy steeped in prophecy, mystery, and the dangerous weight of knowing too much. This story leans into themes of fate…
Cyn's WorkshopAgnes Aubert’s Mystical Cat Shelter: Cozy Fantasy, Magical Cats, and Found Family
Today I’m reviewing Agnes Aubert’s Mystical Cat Shelter—a cozy fantasy filled with magical cats, heartwarming found-family vibes, and just the right touch of…
Cyn's WorkshopLeviathan Wakes: Space Horror, Political Chaos, and Sci-Fi Done Right
Today I’m reviewing Leviathan Wakes by James S.A. Corey—the explosive first book in The Expanse series that blends noir mystery, political tension, and…
Cyn's WorkshopThe Verdant Cage: Nature, Power, and Survival in a Beautifully Brutal World
Today I’m reviewing The Verdant Cage—a fantasy that blends lush worldbuilding with dangerous power struggles and survival-driven stakes. Beneath the beauty of…
Cyn's WorkshopApril Reading Wrap-Up: 14 Books Read & Another Chaotic Reading Month
It’s time for my April Reading Wrap-Up! This month I read 14 books, and while I once again missed my ambitious 20-book goal, I still had a great reading month…
Cyn's WorkshopThe Poisons We Drink: Dark Fantasy, Systemic Corruption & a Flawed Heroine
Today I’m reviewing The Poisons We Drink—a dark fantasy that uses a Witcher-inspired concept to explore systemic racism, corruption, and power structures in a…
Cyn's WorkshopA Thousand Perfect Lies: Secrets, Deception, and the Truth Beneath It All
Today I’m reviewing A Thousand Perfect Lies—a gripping, character-driven story built on secrets, deception, and the fragile nature of truth.This novel leans…
Cyn's WorkshopUnending: A Worthy Sequel with Dual POV & Powerful Representation
Today I’m reviewing Unending by Ivelisse Housman—the long-awaited sequel to Unseelie, and it absolutely did not disappoint.This installment builds beautifully…
Cyn's WorkshopI Killed the King: A Fantasy Whodunnit with Knives Out Vibes
Today I’m reviewing I Killed the King—a fantasy mystery that delivers strong Knives Out energy with a unique whodunnit set in a magical world.The plot and…
Cyn's WorkshopBeast Becomes Her: PTSD, Power, and Norse Myth in a Dark Retelling
Today I’m reviewing Beast Becomes Her by Crystal Seitz—a dark, emotionally charged retelling that tackles PTSD, domestic abuse, and healing through a lens of…
Cyn's WorkshopDragon Cursed: Magic, Destiny, and a Dangerous Legacy
Today I’m reviewing Dragon Cursed—a fantasy that dives into magic, legacy, and the weight of a destiny that can’t be ignored.With dragons, rising stakes, and a…
Cyn's WorkshopFallen City: Ruin, Power, and Survival in a Broken World
Today I’m reviewing Fallen City—a gripping story set in a fractured world where survival, power, and shifting loyalties collide.With a strong sense of…
Cyn's WorkshopMarch Reading Wrap-Up: 15 Books Read & A Strong Month Overall
It’s time for my March Reading Wrap-Up! This month I read 15 books, and even though I didn’t quite hit my 20-book goal, it was still a really solid reading…
Cyn's WorkshopDungeon Crawler Carl: Chaos, Dark Humor, and LitRPG Done Right
Today I’m reviewing Dungeon Crawler Carl—a wildly entertaining LitRPG that blends chaotic humor, brutal survival, and nonstop action into one addictive…
Cyn's WorkshopThrough Our Teeth: Dark Secrets, Survival, and What We Don’t Say
Today I’m reviewing Through Our Teeth—a tense, character-driven story that leans into secrets, survival, and the things people choose not to say out loud.With…
Cyn's WorkshopThis Gilded Abyss: Underwater Horror, Ancient Gods, and Steampunk Survival
Today I’m reviewing This Gilded Abyss by Rebecca Thorne—a wild blend of 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea vibes and 28 Days Later-style survival horror, all set…
Cyn's WorkshopThe Secret World of Briar Rose: A Thoughtful Sleeping Beauty Retelling with Depth
Today I’m reviewing The Secret World of Briar Rose by Cindy Pham—a fresh and emotionally grounded take on the Sleeping Beauty story that explores mental…
Cyn's WorkshopCall of the Dragon: Destiny, Dragons, and Epic Fantasy Stakes
Today I’m reviewing Call of the Dragon—a fantasy adventure that leans into classic genre elements like destiny, powerful magic, and the timeless allure of…
Cyn's WorkshopGame Changer & Heated Rivalry: Hockey Romance That Absolutely Delivers
Today I’m reviewing Game Changer and Heated Rivalry—two standout entries in Rachel Reid’s beloved hockey romance series. These books blend high-stakes…
Cyn's WorkshopFebruary Reading Wrap-Up: 14 Books Down (Missed the 20 Goal… But Still a Solid Month)
Time for my February Reading Wrap-Up! I set a goal to read 20 books this month… and while I didn’t quite hit it, I still finished 14 books, which honestly…
Cyn's WorkshopThe Will of the Many: Roman Empire Meets Red Rising Energy
Today I’m reviewing The Will of the Many by James Islington—a layered epic that blends fantasy and science fiction in a way that feels both classical and…
Cyn's WorkshopAlchemy of Secrets: Dangerous Magic, Twisted Fates, and Garber’s Signature Glamour
Today I’m reviewing Alchemy of Secrets by Stephanie Garber—a lush, twisty fantasy filled with dangerous bargains, glittering illusions, and secrets that refuse…
Cyn's WorkshopDivided by Fire: Dystopian Survival, Loyalty, and a City in Flames
Today I’m reviewing Divided by Fire by Scott Wasilewski—a dystopian sci-fi thriller set in a city on the brink, where survival depends on loyalty, sacrifice…
Cyn's WorkshopWe Who Will Die: Brutal Trials, Deadly Magic, and Survival at Any Cost
Today I’m reviewing We Who Will Die by Stacia Stark—a dark, high-stakes fantasy that throws its characters into brutal trials where survival is never…
Cyn's WorkshopThe Blood of Elves: Politics, Prophecy, and the Rise of Ciri
Today I’m reviewing The Blood of Elves by Andrzej Sapkowski—the first full novel in The Witcher saga and a pivotal turning point for the series. This book…
Cyn's WorkshopThe Book of Magic: Love, Loss, and the Power of the Owens Family
Today I’m reviewing The Book of Magic by Alice Hoffman—the sweeping, emotional conclusion to the Practical Magic series. This final installment leans into…
Cyn's WorkshopFledging: Assassin Fantasy, Hidden Power, and a Girl on the Run
Today I’m reviewing Fledging—a fast-paced fantasy centered on an assassin-in-training navigating secrets, survival, and the dangerous cost of power. The story…
Cyn's WorkshopFallen Gods: Dark Romance, Immortal Chaos, and Deadly Attraction
Today I’m reviewing Fallen Gods by Rachel Van Dyken—a dark fantasy romance steeped in immortal intrigue, dangerous attraction, and power struggles that blur…
Cyn's WorkshopBane of Asgard: Norse Myth, Destiny, and Gods at War
Today I’m reviewing Bane of Asgard by Cinda Williams Chima—a fantasy that draws heavily from Norse mythology, weaving gods, destiny, and looming war into a…
Cyn's WorkshopJanuary Reading Wrap-Up: 18 Books In, Year Off to a Strong Start
What a way to kick off the year! In this episode, I’m sharing my January Reading Wrap-Up—and I knocked it out of the park with 18 books read.I break down my…
Cyn's WorkshopViolet Thistlewaite Is Not a Villain Anymore: Redemption, Magic, and Main Character Energy
Today I’m reviewing Violet Thistlewaite Is Not a Villain Anymore by Emily Krempholtz—a clever, heartfelt fantasy that centers on redemption, self-reinvention…
Cyn's WorkshopCaptain of Fates: Marino Takes the Spotlight in Twin Crowns Book 4
Today I’m reviewing Captain of Fates by Katherine Webber, book four in the Twin Crowns series—and this time, the story follows Marino. This installment expands…
Cyn's WorkshopTidespeaker: Ocean Magic, Power, and the Cost of Being Heard
Today I’m reviewing Tidespeaker—a fantasy steeped in ocean magic, political tension, and the weight of having a voice in a world that would rather silence you…
Cyn's WorkshopNot for the Faint of Heart: Queer Outlaws, Chaos, and Tender Romance
Today I’m reviewing Not for the Faint of Heart by Lex Croucher—a bold, funny, and emotionally rich queer historical adventure that blends rebellion, romance…
Cyn's WorkshopThe Last Vampire: Immortality, Identity, and Modern Myth
Today I’m reviewing The Last Vampire by Romina Garber—a sharp, modern take on vampire mythology that blends atmosphere, identity, and emotional depth. This…
Cyn's WorkshopThe Prince of Mourning: Myth, History, and the Weight of Legacy
Today I’m reviewing The Prince of Mourning, a rich blend of historical fiction and fantasy infused with compelling mythological elements. The story uses…
Cyn's WorkshopThis Will Be Interesting: A Quirky Romantasy Adventure with Chaos and Charm
Today I’m reviewing This Will Be Interesting—a fun, quirky romantasy adventure that fully embraces humor, heart, and magical chaos. This story doesn’t take…