C
Carly Bryant Black
I love reading mainly fiction books, but gimme all the genres. I'm also a writer. I write thrillers and horror as Carly Black. I write romance and romantasy as Carly Bryant.
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★★★★★
Willow, or Odie as Ari affectionally calls her, and Ari have swapped captivity for vengeance. The duo prowls the back roads hunting traffickers, each day sharpening skills and nerves. Odie trains Ari to lean into the darkness that once broke her. Their latest rescue mission goes off script and a new predator circles. Can they track this ruthless woman before she turns the game on them?
Spillin’ the Book Tea:
Pause here if you skipped You Should’ve Kept Driving. That first ride is required reading or nothing I say will make sense, and trust me, you want the context. Go read it, then come back for the carnage.
All set? Good. Odeya Willamina Parks (aka Willow or Odie) returns in full force. She is an unhinged vigilante who knows exactly what she is eating and why. There is no blackout barbecue. Every bite is intentional and the thigh cut still gets a wink from me. Underneath the knives and one liners she is a layered mess of intellect, emotion, and pure focus. Cold calculation rules most of her choices until Ari steps into the frame. For that girl she digs up a softer side, though “soft” for Odie still involves duct tape and nightmares.
Ari’s transformation is the real glow up. Once a terrified captive, she now shadows Odie like a little sister who traded therapy for weapons training. Their bond feels oddly wholesome because it is glued together with trauma, dark jokes, and a mutual hobby of removing predators from the gene pool. I relate hard when they stop to complain about a song stuck on loop. That brain static is painfully real.
Savino keeps the throttle jammed forward. Twists snap like rubber bands, torture scenes earn new patents in cruelty, and the spice hits often enough to fog up your glasses. Yes, some scenes come with clear consent. Others not so much There is no middle ground with these characters. You either cheer them on or you pray someone locks them up. Right and wrong smear together until only loyalty matters.
If you loved Sibby from the Cat and Mouse duet, picture her older, calmer, and running a business plan for revenge. That is Odie. The book is witty, twisted, and absolutely unhinged. I devoured it with the same enthusiasm Odie brings to dinner minus the human entrée, of course.
The Vibes It Brings:
Spillin’ the Book Tea:
Pause here if you skipped You Should’ve Kept Driving. That first ride is required reading or nothing I say will make sense, and trust me, you want the context. Go read it, then come back for the carnage.
All set? Good. Odeya Willamina Parks (aka Willow or Odie) returns in full force. She is an unhinged vigilante who knows exactly what she is eating and why. There is no blackout barbecue. Every bite is intentional and the thigh cut still gets a wink from me. Underneath the knives and one liners she is a layered mess of intellect, emotion, and pure focus. Cold calculation rules most of her choices until Ari steps into the frame. For that girl she digs up a softer side, though “soft” for Odie still involves duct tape and nightmares.
Ari’s transformation is the real glow up. Once a terrified captive, she now shadows Odie like a little sister who traded therapy for weapons training. Their bond feels oddly wholesome because it is glued together with trauma, dark jokes, and a mutual hobby of removing predators from the gene pool. I relate hard when they stop to complain about a song stuck on loop. That brain static is painfully real.
Savino keeps the throttle jammed forward. Twists snap like rubber bands, torture scenes earn new patents in cruelty, and the spice hits often enough to fog up your glasses. Yes, some scenes come with clear consent. Others not so much There is no middle ground with these characters. You either cheer them on or you pray someone locks them up. Right and wrong smear together until only loyalty matters.
If you loved Sibby from the Cat and Mouse duet, picture her older, calmer, and running a business plan for revenge. That is Odie. The book is witty, twisted, and absolutely unhinged. I devoured it with the same enthusiasm Odie brings to dinner minus the human entrée, of course.
The Vibes It Brings:
Reviewed 1 month ago

★★★★★
The Dream Killer by Adam Cosco - Book Review
Adam Cosco's "The Dream Killer" is a gripping psychological thriller that pulls readers into a labyrinth of desires and dark intentions. The story revolves around a tormented detective haunted by dreams that become reality. As he navigates through a slew of crimes, the lines between his subconscious warnings and waking life begin to blur, unraveling a chilling narrative where the hunter might also be the hunted. Fans of mind-bending mysteries will find themselves on the edge of their seats as they race towards a shocking climax.
Adam Cosco really knows how to set a scene. Every moment feels so vivid you can practically reach out and touch it. Whether you are walking the foggy streets with the detective or stuck inside a twisted dreamscape, it all comes to life in a way that feels so real and so eerie.
I loved the concept. Following two different storylines that somehow weave tighter and tighter together kept me completely hooked. It made the whole experience feel layered and fresh. The way the tension builds is amazing too. You are constantly wondering where the next turn is going to take you and just when you think you have it figured out... you absolutely do not. That ending hit like a truck.
I will say, at times the two stories running at once got a little confusing. You have to really pay attention because everything matters. But honestly, that made it even more fun once everything started to click into place.
If I could give this 4.5 stars, I would in a heartbeat. It is a strong four-star read for me though because of how original and well-written it is. I definitely recommend it if you love psychological thrillers that keep your brain spinning until the very last page.
The Vibe It Brings
Adam Cosco's "The Dream Killer" is a gripping psychological thriller that pulls readers into a labyrinth of desires and dark intentions. The story revolves around a tormented detective haunted by dreams that become reality. As he navigates through a slew of crimes, the lines between his subconscious warnings and waking life begin to blur, unraveling a chilling narrative where the hunter might also be the hunted. Fans of mind-bending mysteries will find themselves on the edge of their seats as they race towards a shocking climax.
Adam Cosco really knows how to set a scene. Every moment feels so vivid you can practically reach out and touch it. Whether you are walking the foggy streets with the detective or stuck inside a twisted dreamscape, it all comes to life in a way that feels so real and so eerie.
I loved the concept. Following two different storylines that somehow weave tighter and tighter together kept me completely hooked. It made the whole experience feel layered and fresh. The way the tension builds is amazing too. You are constantly wondering where the next turn is going to take you and just when you think you have it figured out... you absolutely do not. That ending hit like a truck.
I will say, at times the two stories running at once got a little confusing. You have to really pay attention because everything matters. But honestly, that made it even more fun once everything started to click into place.
If I could give this 4.5 stars, I would in a heartbeat. It is a strong four-star read for me though because of how original and well-written it is. I definitely recommend it if you love psychological thrillers that keep your brain spinning until the very last page.
The Vibe It Brings
Reviewed 1 month ago

★★★★★
Set in the 1980s, The First Thread follows rookie FBI agent and single mom Daisy Adams as she’s thrown into a chilling case that hits too close to home, the disappearance of a young girl from her front yard. As Daisy juggles her career and motherhood, she becomes deeply entangled in a nightmare rooted in true events. The deeper she digs, the darker things get. With emotional stakes and psychological tension running high, this story isn’t just about finding a child, it’s about confronting every parent’s worst fear. This is the first book in a gritty true crime thriller trilogy that dares to ask how far someone will go for the truth.
Okay, listen. I live for true crime, so when I found out this was inspired by real events? You know I dove in headfirst. The author was kind enough to give me a copy which did not affect this review. The First Thread did not disappoint. From the very first chapter, I was hooked. Like white-knuckling my Kindle and forgetting I had responsibilities kind of hooked. Sorry Hubby!
This book is pure adrenaline. The pacing is fast and tight, no meandering plot here. Every chapter ratchets up the tension until you’re fully in it, heart racing, palms sweaty, side-eyeing your front door like maybe you should double-check those locks. Again.
Daisy, our main character, is so raw and real. She’s not some untouchable superhero agent. She’s a tired mom running on caffeine and grit, trying to balance work stress with mom guilt while being tossed into the most terrifying case of her life. Her emotions? Totally believable. You feel her panic. Her exhaustion. That sick feeling when the case starts mirroring her own life? Yeah, it got to me.
The writing doesn’t try too hard, and that’s what makes it hit even harder. Nadija Mujagic lays it all out in a way that’s brutally effective, no fluff, just pure gut-punch after gut-punch. I actually had to pause at one point because I forgot to breathe.
And since this is based on true events, that creepy, lingering feeling? It sticks with you. There’s something about knowing this really happened, or could happen, that makes it so much more impactful.
Now let’s talk about that ending. I am absolutely dangling off this cliff, and I need book two now. Like yesterday. Someone check on me until it drops because Nadija left me hanging in the most torturous, amazing way possible.
This book had me pacing like I was the one solving the case. If you're into thrillers with emotional depth, psychological tension, and a story that feels way too possible, The First Thread is your next obsession. Nadija Mujagic doesn’t just tell a story, she throws you straight into it and leaves you breathless. This is the start of a series that promises to be unforgettable. Grab it, lock your doors, and clear your calendar. You're not putting this one down.
The Vibes it Brings
Okay, listen. I live for true crime, so when I found out this was inspired by real events? You know I dove in headfirst. The author was kind enough to give me a copy which did not affect this review. The First Thread did not disappoint. From the very first chapter, I was hooked. Like white-knuckling my Kindle and forgetting I had responsibilities kind of hooked. Sorry Hubby!
This book is pure adrenaline. The pacing is fast and tight, no meandering plot here. Every chapter ratchets up the tension until you’re fully in it, heart racing, palms sweaty, side-eyeing your front door like maybe you should double-check those locks. Again.
Daisy, our main character, is so raw and real. She’s not some untouchable superhero agent. She’s a tired mom running on caffeine and grit, trying to balance work stress with mom guilt while being tossed into the most terrifying case of her life. Her emotions? Totally believable. You feel her panic. Her exhaustion. That sick feeling when the case starts mirroring her own life? Yeah, it got to me.
The writing doesn’t try too hard, and that’s what makes it hit even harder. Nadija Mujagic lays it all out in a way that’s brutally effective, no fluff, just pure gut-punch after gut-punch. I actually had to pause at one point because I forgot to breathe.
And since this is based on true events, that creepy, lingering feeling? It sticks with you. There’s something about knowing this really happened, or could happen, that makes it so much more impactful.
Now let’s talk about that ending. I am absolutely dangling off this cliff, and I need book two now. Like yesterday. Someone check on me until it drops because Nadija left me hanging in the most torturous, amazing way possible.
This book had me pacing like I was the one solving the case. If you're into thrillers with emotional depth, psychological tension, and a story that feels way too possible, The First Thread is your next obsession. Nadija Mujagic doesn’t just tell a story, she throws you straight into it and leaves you breathless. This is the start of a series that promises to be unforgettable. Grab it, lock your doors, and clear your calendar. You're not putting this one down.
The Vibes it Brings
Reviewed 1 month ago































































































































































































































































